What is the capability of water hyacinth eicchornia crassipes as a alternative biofuel?

Water hyacinth is certainly a promising resource for producing biofuels and synfuels (synthetic fuels). It can be produced/managed in natural, restored and constructed wetlands. The major advantage is its high biomass yields, much superior than any other aquatic or terrestrial macrophytes. The challenge is the huge water content in fresh biomass, that must be previously removed to provide a highly efficient and attractive Biomass-to-Liquids (BTL) resource.

From the point of view of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), water hyacinth has also a series of advantages for the production of biofuels. Basically it is non-food resource; it can be produced worldwide, for instance in wastewater plants; it does not compete for food production in croplands. And several other depending upon the type of wetland...

"Water hyacinth is one of the most natural lemon for the humankind biofuel lemonade"

Ivan Bergier

Laboratory of Bioenergy and Geosciences

Embrapa Pantanal (www.cpap.embrapa.br)

Ivan@cpap.embrapa.br