Potential Alternative Source of Cooking Fuel: Water Hyacinth (Eichhornnia crassipes) Briquettes

Authors

  • Kishriele Ocbina
  • Paolo Ramos
  • Patrick James Garote

Keywords:

briquetting, water hyacinth, charcoal, fuel

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The prevalent overpopulation of water hyacinth in the nearby Laguna lake causes many problems among the inhabitants of the area. Oxygen allotted for fish were depleted, problems with drainage and hindrance in water transportation are the few problems of this phenomenon. The water hyacinth stalks are used traditionally as weaving materials but the leaves become trash and wasted with no economic importance. The researchers sought to determine the comparative study of water hyacinth briquettes as to ordinary commercial charcoal. In addition, the researchers tried to identify which was the best part of the plant to use for briquetting for biomass fuel.

METHODS

The water hyacinth was collected, separated, sun-dried, carbonized, mixed with a starch binder, molded, then sun-dried again and were subjected to a two-part test. The first test was conducted by the researchers based on their capabilities and resources. They compare a sample by mass of the combination water hyacinth sample and ordinary charcoal for flammability test with burning rate, peak temperature, burning duration, and ash content. The second test was to verify which part of the water hyacinth (leaves, stalks, a combination of leaves and stalks)has the best quality in terms of heating value and approximate chemical analysis which was conducted in DOST-Forest Products Research Development Institute.

RESULTS

The briquettes can be used as an alternative fuel source to charcoal for domestic use like simple cooking, boiling, and frying. In addition, as per the laboratory testing conducted in by the DOST -PRDI, it was found that the leaves produced the highest amount of heat per gram of sample. In terms of moisture, the leaves registered the lowest moisture content, the highest percentage of volatile combustible matter, lower ash content which are good indicators of fuel efficiency. Recommendations of the researchers include the use of different binder ratios and other types of binder to attain maximum effect.

DISCUSSIONS

The water Hyacinth briquette has a lower temperature, faster duration, higher ash content, lower volatile matter, and lower gas emission. This data showed that water Hyacinth could be an alternative to charcoal. Producing these cleaner water Hyacinth briquettes, lower cost is consumed but with the same effectiveness. Using these briquettes, many families will be helped in reducing their expenses for charcoal, instead, increase their income, and the environment will be saved from the destructive effects of water Hyacinth.

Published

2019-01-18