696
viscosity and +15 °C pour point. Calorific value of the oil was 28.35 MJ/kg, much
higher (~63%) than the feedstock.
Various processing conditions have been assessed to observe their influence on
catalytic pyrolysis of Eichhornia crassipes to produce bio-oil, and its composition
was reported by Gulab et al. [89]. The oil production was optimized by considering
various parameters like temperature (150–450 °C), time (60–100 min) and 5% (wt)
catalyst (aluminium, copper) concentration. Under optimum process conditions
(450 °C, 60 min and copper as a catalyst), 31.6% (wt) bio-oil was produced.
Zhang et al. [62, 63] have employed by two-stage microwave-assisted catalytic
fast pyrolysis (MACFP) in series. Production of bio-oil has been optimized by varying temperature from 500 to 750 °C at 750 W of microwave power. Ce-doped
γ-Al 2 O 3 /ZrO 2 composite mesoporous catalyst (CAZ) in packed bed was used along
with MACFP to minimize the coke formation and boost hydrocarbon generation.
The highest yield of oil was achieved to be 20.5% (wt) at 650 °C.
Lin et al. [90] assessed the influence of chromium containing polluted Eichhornia
crassipes on pyrolysis in fixed bed to produce bio-oil. Water hyacinth was treated
with different concentration of chromium 0.5–2.5% (wt) before pyrolysis. Pyrolysis
was done at different temperatures 300–600 °C. The maximum bio-oil yield value
for chromium-treated water hyacinth was 63.1% (wt). Thus, chromium might have
played a role as a catalyst to improve the yield. The acid value and high heating
value (HHV) for chromium-treated water hyacinth pyrolitic bio-oil were found to
be 85.04 mg KOH/g and 26.72 MJ/kg, respectively. The best results were obtained
at 500 °C and chromium concentration of 2.5% (wt). The yield of bio-oil for
chromium- treated biomass was increased by 23.2% compared to untreated biomass.
4.7 Miscellaneous Applications
4.7.1 Vermicompost
Vermicompost is generally prepared from the vegetables and foods using worms
like earth worms, white worms and red wigglers. Vermicompost is extensively used
as an organic fertilizer and soil conditioner [10]. Compost was made by adding layers of water hyacinth and cow dung. Vermicompost made from water hyacinth has
been successfully used for maturing of the angiosperm Crossandra undulaefolia
with fruitful outcomes. The factors regarding plant growth like plant height, number
of leaves, root length, shoot-root ratio and flowering have been tested, and the positive impact of vermicompost on the growth of plant has been observed [91].
4.7.2 Supercapacitor Electrode
Water hyacinth was successfully employed for the preparation of carbon microsphere used for supercapacitor electrode. Water hyacinth was hydrolysed into sugar
using dilute sulphuric acid solution (0.25 M) at 20 bar and 130 °C for 2 h. The
P. V. Ganorkar et al.
viscosity and +15 °C pour point. Calorific value of the oil was 28.35 MJ/kg, much
higher (~63%) than the feedstock.
Various processing conditions have been assessed to observe their influence on
catalytic pyrolysis of Eichhornia crassipes to produce bio-oil, and its composition
was reported by Gulab et al. [89]. The oil production was optimized by considering
various parameters like temperature (150–450 °C), time (60–100 min) and 5% (wt)
catalyst (aluminium, copper) concentration. Under optimum process conditions
(450 °C, 60 min and copper as a catalyst), 31.6% (wt) bio-oil was produced.
Zhang et al. [62, 63] have employed by two-stage microwave-assisted catalytic
fast pyrolysis (MACFP) in series. Production of bio-oil has been optimized by varying temperature from 500 to 750 °C at 750 W of microwave power. Ce-doped
γ-Al 2 O 3 /ZrO 2 composite mesoporous catalyst (CAZ) in packed bed was used along
with MACFP to minimize the coke formation and boost hydrocarbon generation.
The highest yield of oil was achieved to be 20.5% (wt) at 650 °C.
Lin et al. [90] assessed the influence of chromium containing polluted Eichhornia
crassipes on pyrolysis in fixed bed to produce bio-oil. Water hyacinth was treated
with different concentration of chromium 0.5–2.5% (wt) before pyrolysis. Pyrolysis
was done at different temperatures 300–600 °C. The maximum bio-oil yield value
for chromium-treated water hyacinth was 63.1% (wt). Thus, chromium might have
played a role as a catalyst to improve the yield. The acid value and high heating
value (HHV) for chromium-treated water hyacinth pyrolitic bio-oil were found to
be 85.04 mg KOH/g and 26.72 MJ/kg, respectively. The best results were obtained
at 500 °C and chromium concentration of 2.5% (wt). The yield of bio-oil for
chromium- treated biomass was increased by 23.2% compared to untreated biomass.
4.7 Miscellaneous Applications
4.7.1 Vermicompost
Vermicompost is generally prepared from the vegetables and foods using worms
like earth worms, white worms and red wigglers. Vermicompost is extensively used
as an organic fertilizer and soil conditioner [10]. Compost was made by adding layers of water hyacinth and cow dung. Vermicompost made from water hyacinth has
been successfully used for maturing of the angiosperm Crossandra undulaefolia
with fruitful outcomes. The factors regarding plant growth like plant height, number
of leaves, root length, shoot-root ratio and flowering have been tested, and the positive impact of vermicompost on the growth of plant has been observed [91].
4.7.2 Supercapacitor Electrode
Water hyacinth was successfully employed for the preparation of carbon microsphere used for supercapacitor electrode. Water hyacinth was hydrolysed into sugar
using dilute sulphuric acid solution (0.25 M) at 20 bar and 130 °C for 2 h. The
P. V. Ganorkar et al.