Sustainable Energy Recovery from Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) through Briquetting as an Eco-friendly Alternative to Wood Fuel in Burkina Faso
Lucmane Koala *
Laboratoire de Physique et de Chimie de l’Environnement (LPCE), Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, 03 P.O. Box 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Sampawinde Augustin Zongo
Laboratoire de Physique et de Chimie de l’Environnement (LPCE), Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, 03 P.O. Box 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Abdoul Fayçal Baguian
Laboratoire de Physique et de Chimie de l’Environnement (LPCE), Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, 03 P.O. Box 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Kayaba Haro
Institut de Recherche en Sciences Appliquées et Technologie (IRSAT), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Tizane Daho
Laboratoire de Physique et de Chimie de l’Environnement (LPCE), Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, 03 P.O. Box 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Oumar Sanogo
Institut de Recherche en Sciences Appliquées et Technologie (IRSAT), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique (CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Antoine Béré
Laboratoire de Physique et de Chimie de l’Environnement (LPCE), Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, 03 P.O. Box 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study focused on the energy recovery of water hyacinth as an alternative source of wood energy in Burkina Faso. It involved measuring the physical and chemical characteristics of ground water hyacinth. The study also involved manufacturing agglomerates of ground, non-carbonized water hyacinth and determining their physico-chemical characteristics.
The results of the analysis reveal that ground hyacinth has a promising Net calorific value (15.54 MJ/kg) with a high ash content (18.78%).
The study shows that the 5% starch formulation meets biofuel criteria with satisfactory impact resistance, a maximum moisture content of 2.76%, an ash content of 15.26%, a volatile matter content of 67.32%, a fixed carbon content of 17.42% and an Net calorific value of 15.24 MJ/kg. The study highlights the dual environmental advantage of mitigating water hyacinth proliferation while reducing reliance on forest resources, though challenges such as compressive strength require further optimization.
Keywords: Biofuel, water hyacinth, energy recovery, deforestation