673
are suffering from it as continuous removal of weed from water bodies before entering the turbine is expensive. The biomass generated after death of water hyacinth
lowers the quality of drinkable water, and therefore the purification cost to get potable water is increased [12]. Water hyacinth provides breeding environment to the
pest. The dense mat of water hyacinth is favourable for disease causing organisms
like Anopheles mosquito responsible for malaria [24]. Water hyacinth provides
cover for reptiles and poisonous snakes [12].
3 Water Hyacinth Control
Control of water hyacinth is very necessary as it adversely affects the aquatic life
and environment. Control methods generally applied for removal of water hyacinth
include mechanical, chemical and biological control. In mechanical control method,
various machines are used to perform the operations such as cutting, shearing,
shredding, crushing, pressing, lifting, conveying and transporting of the weed for
the maximum removal. However, the use of mechanical means like heavy machines
during these operations is very expensive [14]. Chemical herbicides like paraquat,
diquat, glyphosate, amitrole and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) have been
utilized for controlling water hyacinth. But the long-term use of these herbicides
deteriorates the water quality which is dangerous for aquatic life. In biological control, the weevils decrease potency of water hyacinth upon reducing the growth rate,
controlling its reproduction as well as formation of flowers and seeds [25]. However,
the growth of this invasive weed is difficult to control as it spreads rapidly either by
vegetative propagation or by seeds [26]. Hence, water hyacinth should be further
utilized for value-added products after its eradication under the concept of biorefinery. Biorefinery provides sustainable waste management along with generation of
significant economic and environmental benefits [2]. Water hyacinth can be controlled by utilizing it for value-added products which is the emerging trend.
4 Potential Applications of Water Hyacinth
In spite of the fact that the water hyacinth is a notorious aquatic species, various
researchers have found the potential of it for numerous applications. Water hyacinth
is perennially available in huge amount despite of the attempts to curtail its growth;
thus, there will be a continuous and steady supply for wide spectrum of its utility.
Value-added products from Eichhornia crassipes include fuel [27], ethanol [28] and
biopolymer [29]; biohydrogen, biobutanol, sorbent for heavy metals [30] and dyes
[31], composites [32], enzymes [33], fuel with higher heating value (HHV or HCV)
[34] and brick manufacturing [35]; and ultracapacitor electrode [36]. Some important extractives like organic acids, sterols and phenolic components from various
morphological parts such as roots, stems, leaves, petioles and flowers of water
Waste Valorization of Water Hyacinth Using Biorefinery Approach: A Sustainable Route
are suffering from it as continuous removal of weed from water bodies before entering the turbine is expensive. The biomass generated after death of water hyacinth
lowers the quality of drinkable water, and therefore the purification cost to get potable water is increased [12]. Water hyacinth provides breeding environment to the
pest. The dense mat of water hyacinth is favourable for disease causing organisms
like Anopheles mosquito responsible for malaria [24]. Water hyacinth provides
cover for reptiles and poisonous snakes [12].
3 Water Hyacinth Control
Control of water hyacinth is very necessary as it adversely affects the aquatic life
and environment. Control methods generally applied for removal of water hyacinth
include mechanical, chemical and biological control. In mechanical control method,
various machines are used to perform the operations such as cutting, shearing,
shredding, crushing, pressing, lifting, conveying and transporting of the weed for
the maximum removal. However, the use of mechanical means like heavy machines
during these operations is very expensive [14]. Chemical herbicides like paraquat,
diquat, glyphosate, amitrole and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) have been
utilized for controlling water hyacinth. But the long-term use of these herbicides
deteriorates the water quality which is dangerous for aquatic life. In biological control, the weevils decrease potency of water hyacinth upon reducing the growth rate,
controlling its reproduction as well as formation of flowers and seeds [25]. However,
the growth of this invasive weed is difficult to control as it spreads rapidly either by
vegetative propagation or by seeds [26]. Hence, water hyacinth should be further
utilized for value-added products after its eradication under the concept of biorefinery. Biorefinery provides sustainable waste management along with generation of
significant economic and environmental benefits [2]. Water hyacinth can be controlled by utilizing it for value-added products which is the emerging trend.
4 Potential Applications of Water Hyacinth
In spite of the fact that the water hyacinth is a notorious aquatic species, various
researchers have found the potential of it for numerous applications. Water hyacinth
is perennially available in huge amount despite of the attempts to curtail its growth;
thus, there will be a continuous and steady supply for wide spectrum of its utility.
Value-added products from Eichhornia crassipes include fuel [27], ethanol [28] and
biopolymer [29]; biohydrogen, biobutanol, sorbent for heavy metals [30] and dyes
[31], composites [32], enzymes [33], fuel with higher heating value (HHV or HCV)
[34] and brick manufacturing [35]; and ultracapacitor electrode [36]. Some important extractives like organic acids, sterols and phenolic components from various
morphological parts such as roots, stems, leaves, petioles and flowers of water
Waste Valorization of Water Hyacinth Using Biorefinery Approach: A Sustainable Route