Enhancing the Properties of Water Hyacinth Biomass Briquettes by Mercerization Process

Water hyacinth is an aquatic plant that has a great reproductive potential. The propagation of water hyacinth in most water bodies have decimated the livelihoods of many and reduced the water quality, among other negative effects. Converting this invasive water hyacinth into briquettes will serve as a good measure for controlling its proliferation, and also as a strong strategy for the development of sustainable alternative energy sources. This study explored water hyacinth briquettes as alternative to the local wood fuels through mercerization process to enhance the qualities of a biomass briquette and encourage its use as a renewable energy source of fuel. The aim was to evaluate the combustion performance of treated water hyacinth (TWH) and water hyacinth (WH). After sample collection, preparation and treatment, the briquettes were produced using 20 g of starch prepared into slurry blended with 80 g of the sample to produce the briquettes. The proximate characteristics, physical properties, combustion properties, the morphologies and structural changes in the briquettes were determined. The results obtained showed that both samples have good energy potentials. The outcome indicates that the alkaline treatment removed the hemicelluloses in the biomass and in turn reduced the moisture content of the briquettes. Consequently, the physical and combustibility properties of the briquettes got improved. The calorific value also improved from (30.58 MJ/Kg) in WH to (34.22 MJ/Kg) in TWH, The scanning electron microscopy analysis showed a rough surface which enhanced bonding of the sample particles while the FTIR showed a structural change in the OH groups which indicates that the hemicelluloses have been removed.