Investigating the Anaerobic Digestion of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Sourced from Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa

The biodegradability of water hyacinth for biogas and biofertilizer production was studied under mesophilic conditions. effects pretreatments were also included in this investigation. It found that has a low 27% when monodigested, while 3:1 ratio with cow manure, the increases to 46%. At elevated biodegradability, biomethane potential 185 LCH4/kgVS, manure 216 LCH4/kgVS. Gompertz kinetic model had superior parameters than logistic most hyacinth–cow combined substrate digestion. Based on model, lag phase daily maximum methane rate 5.5 days 22.9 mL/day, respectively, codigestion (R2 0.99). These values 6.7 15.2 case monodigestion = 0.996). dominant microbial species detected digestates Bacteroidetes Proteobacteria. A few indigenous hyacinth, but more diverse consortia, which are key efficient biodegradation, came from manure. digestate contained ammonium nitrogen at 68 mg/kg phosphorous potassium 73 424 mg/kg, respectively. Nitrogen lower comparable previously other substrates. Only pretreated by aerobic composting proven unlock higher yield matched Other induced better biodegradation performance observed untreated these improvements not as good scheme. concluded sourced Hartbeespoort Dam could be treated anaerobic digestion recover biofertilizer. However, experiments required fully understand harness optimisation opportunities available applying technology manage hyacinths.