Papers by Keyword: Water Hyacinth

Abstract: The danger to environmental productivity posed by many human activities is making water contamination an essential problem. Assessing oxidative stress biomarkers as markers of environmental contamination in water hyacinth and Nile tilapia from the Wupa River in Abuja that is damaged by effluent is the goal of this study. Samples were gathered and examined according to established protocols. Biomarker result shows hydrogen peroxide activities in the leaves of water Hyacinth (101.76 ±11.70-104.17 ± 17.78 mol/L) stem (81.22 ± 9.86-87.68 ± 10.31 mol/L). Superoxide anion of the leaves (25.33 ± 3.56-28.06 ± 6.09 mol/m³), stem (24.51 ± 2.99 - 26.16 ±1.84 mol/m³). Catalase enzymatic activities (43.57±2.12 - 48.23 ± 19.06), stem (39.73±4.95-47.12 ± 5.00). The Malondialdehyde of the leaves (348.04 ± 220.43-455.08 ± 137.99 g/mol) and the stem (180.08 ± 151.08-252.04 ±147.67 g/mol). In the Fish, Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels were highest in the liver, ranging from 363.62 ± 46.16 mol/L (upstream) to 362.81 ± 225.78 mol/L (downstream), significantly exceeding those in the heart and gills. Superoxide anion concentrations followed a similar pattern, with liver values ranging from 41.03 ± 8.75 mol/m³ (downstream) to 82.61 ± 64.88 mol/m³ (upstream), again surpassing levels in the heart and gills. Catalase activity was relatively stable across tissues, with values in the liver ranging from 33.75 ± 5.49 (upstream) to 38.51 ± 2.04 (downstream). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, were significantly elevated in the gills, particularly upstream (30.89 ± 10.87 g/mol), when compared to liver and heart values. The Biomarker results demonstrate that water hyacinth and Nile Tilapia can be effectively used to assess the pollution status of the Wupa River, with the biomarkers such hydrogen peroxide, catalase and superoxide anion levels reflecting the organism’s response to environmental stressors.

Abstract: Contamination of water by heavy metals is a major environmental problem in modern world as pollutants enter aquatic systems through various means such as effluent discharge, industrial, urban and agricultural run-off. This study is evaluated the bioaccumulation potentials of Eichornia crassipe (Water hyacinth) on some selected heavy metals in effluent impacted Wupa River. The result shows Water Cadmium (0.10 ± 0.01-0.12 ± 0.00 mg/L), Copper (0.01 ± 0.01-0.04 ± 0.02 mg/L), Iron (0.57 ± 0.23-0.83 ± 0.26mg/L), Nickel (0.11± 0.01-0.15±0.10 mg/L), Lead (0.98 ± 0.86-1.04 ± 0.64 mg/L), Zinc (0.02 ± 0.00-0.03 ± 0.00 mg/L). Sediment heavy metal Copper mean (0.13 ± 0.03-0.28 ± 0.06mg/L), Nickel (0.02 ± 0.02-0.18 ± 0.12mg/L), Zinc (0.03 ± 0.04-0.05 ± 0.04mg/L), Cadmium (0.004 ± 0.05-0.01 ± 0.01mg/L), Lead (5.09 ± 5.38-5.69 ± 1.61mg/L), Iron (2.00 ± 1.77 to 5.65 ± 2.03 mg/L). Molecular identification reveals high percentage identities ranging from 88.69% to 98.74% with known chloroplast sequences of E. crassipes. Water hyacinth root had high bioconcentration factor metals such as iron and copper while the leaves had highest BCF in Lead. The heavy metal removal efficiency of iron and copper was significantly low (p<0.05) in the root of water hyacinth when compared to the leave and stem of same plant. While the lead heavy metal removal was significantly (p<0.05) low in the stem when compared to the root and leaves of water hyacinth.

Abstract: Corrosion of steel structures in marine environments is a critical issue affecting infrastructure integrity and maintenance costs worldwide. Generally, inhibitors have proven to reduce the corrosion rate to the barest minimum than other methods. The inhibitors are produced using the experimental method which is time consuming and costly. This necessitate the development of models for the quick assessment of the efficiency of the inhibitor. This research focused on the prediction of corrosion inhibitory efficiency of water hyacinth on mild steel in marine environment using multiple linear regression (MLR) method. Various concentrations (5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml, 20 ml and 25 ml) were added to the samples immersed in seawater and a sample without the addition of the inhibitor was used as the control for a period of 30 days. The study was carried out using weight loss method and the corrosion rate as well as the inhibition efficiency were calculated. Phytochemical analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopic were carried out on the inhibitor while Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Display X-ray Spectroscopy were used to analyze the steel sample. The analysis of the result showed that the best inhibition efficiency obtained was 90% and this was achieved with 15% concentration of the inhibitor. Multiple linear regression model was developed to predict the inhibitor’s efficiency. The predicted efficiency with the MLR model was compared with that of the experimentally obtained efficiency and the outcome shows a conformity between the experimental and the predicted value. It would therefore be recommended to rely on multiple linear regression in predicting the efficiency of water hyacinth for corrosion control of mild steel in marine environment based on the closeness of the predicted values to the experimental values.

Abstract: Bioconversion of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) cellulose into glucose was successfully conducted by Trichoderma viride. Cellulose was isolated from water hyacinth by delignification. The delignification method is carried out for bond breaking of lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra of the delignification products confirmed that cellulose was successfully isolated. FTIR spectra showed the presence of peaks for the C=O and C=C groups, the C-H and C─O groups of polysaccharide bonds, and the C─O─C vibrational peak of pyranose ring. Cellulose was obtained in 58.84% yield. Cellulose was then converted into glucose through enzymatic processes by Trichoderma viride. Initially, these fungi are required to be adapted and rejuvenated with cellulose media. Gradual adaptation and rejuvenation aims to optimize the performance of fungi in converting cellulose into glucose. Cultures were incubated at 35°C and 120 rpm in an orbital shaker incubator. The FTIR spectra of glucose showed the presence of peaks for-OH alcohol and C=O bonds of glucose typical absorption peaks. Thus, the glucose conversion was successful. Water hyacinth can be a sustainable cellulose source for glucose synthesis in tropical and subtropical countries. Furthermore, water hyacinth has other advantages, such as its high breeding rate, availability, and low cost. Keywords: Eichhornia crassipes, glucose, water hyacinth, Trichoderma viridee

Abstract: Water hyacinth (WH), a free-floating aquatic plant with rapid growth characteristics, often forms thick layers on the water surface, causing issues such as destroying the ecosystem, affecting aquaculture, and hindering agricultural activities. Using WH to produce valuable products can contribute to economic development and overcome these problems. This study used the thermal compression technique to fabricate the cellulose film from alkali-treated WH without using synthetic polymers. The effects of the processing time and temperature of the thermal compression method on the tensile properties, moisture content, and water absorption were investigated. A scanning electron microscope characterized the surface morphology of WH fibers. The results showed that the WH film possessed some specific properties, including a tensile strength of 1.869 MPa, an elongation of 1.25 %, a moisture content of 3.05 %, water absorption of 62.99 %, and water contact angle of 70.1^o. In future perspective, WH film can be used to manufacture biodegradable products for commercial applications, such as coasters and plates, thanks to availability, sustainability, plentiful and inexpensive raw materials.

Abstract: The research centered on creating magnetic water hyacinth biochar (MWHB) by chemically co-precipitating Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions onto the initial biomass, which was pyrolyzed at 450°C for an hour. This MWHB was then utilized in a series of batch adsorption experiments to evaluate its effectiveness in removing nitrates from simulated wastewater. The investigation focused on understanding the impact of pH, amount of adsorbent used, and duration of contact on nitrate removal efficiency. These parameters were selected using a 2^k+1 Full Factorial Design of Experiments (DOE). The data collected from the experiments underwent analysis in JMP® (SAS institute) using Pearson’s Correlation test, providing a comprehensive statistical analysis beyond utilizing the software's Prediction Profiler. The findings revealed that the quantity of adsorbent used significantly affected the nitrate removal efficiency of the magnetic biochar, demonstrating a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.8459. On the other hand, pH and contact time exhibited relatively weaker effects, obtaining correlation coefficients of-0.1943 and 0.2915, respectively. The DOE suggested the optimal conditions for nitrate removal to be at pH 3, utilizing 0.40 grams of adsorbent, and maintaining a contact time of 90 minutes, with a predicted nitrate removal efficiency of approximately 99.10%, while the actual removal efficiency stood at 97.31%. Additionally, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was employed to examine the surface morphology of the MWHB before and after nitrate removal, aiding in understanding the factors contributing to the observed nitrate removal efficiency.

Abstract: In this research, the researchers successfully fabricated photocatalysts hybrid materials using g-C₃N₄ microrods and g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, which were coated on water hyacinth cellulose sponges. The optical properties of the photocatalysts hybrid materials, specifically the g-C₃N₄ microrods and g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, were analyzed using a UV-vis spectrometer. The morphology of the g-C₃N₄ microrods and g-C₃N₄ nanosheets photocatalysts was examined using different procedures, including FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), and TEM (transmission electron microscopy). The results obtained from the study indicate that g-C₃N₄ microrods exhibited a higher level of crystallinity or orderliness in terms of intramolecular orientation compared to g-C₃N₄ nanosheets. This suggests that the microrods possessed a more organized arrangement of atoms within the material structure. Furthermore, the energy bandgap values, as determined from the study, were found to be 2.25 eV for the microrods and 2.75 eV for the nanosheets. As part of this project, the photocatalysts, namely g-C₃N₄ microrods and g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, were utilized as coating materials for water hyacinth-synthesized cellulose sponges. This process led to the formation of hybrid materials known as g-C₃N₄ MCS (Microrods Cellulose Sponge) and g-C₃N₄ NCS (Nanosheets Cellulose Sponge). The efficiency and reaction rate of MB removal were then studied with various models such as First order reaction, Second order reaction, Pseudo first order reaction, Pseudo second order reaction and Elovich model. The results obtained from the research project indicated that the g-C₃N₄ NCS hybrid material exhibited a notably higher rate of organic degradation compared to the g-C₃N₄ MCS hybrid material. In conclusion, this research project successfully achieved the fabrication and characterization of a photocatalysts hybrid material using cellulose sponge from water hyacinth. The material demonstrated excellent performance as an absorbent and degradation agent for organic pollutants in water, highlighting its potential for practical applications in water treatment and environmental remediation.

Abstract: This study focuses on the biogas production from water hyacinth (WH) while co-digested with poultry litter (PL) through bio methanation. The high content of hemicelluloses and cellulose present in the water hyacinth demands the need for pretreatment to enable the rapid anaerobic decomposition of the organic matter and resulting in improved process rate and biogas yield. Water Hyacinth is chemically pretreated using NaOH and lime to achieve partial disintegration of very long unbranched fibrils composed exclusively of glucose, with hydrogen bonding. The chemical disintegration of hemicellulose is achieved initially by hydrating the chopped WH in the ratio of 1:1. The hydrated WH is added with 1% by weight of NaOH and lime separately in batches. The digestion was performed in four fixed dome batch type digesters namely with raw WH, Lime pretreated WH+PL, and NaOH pretreated WH+PL and co-digestion of WH with PL. The digestion was carried out at mesophilic anaerobic condition and the pH is maintained at near neutral range for a hydraulic retention time of 21 days. As a result, it is observed that there is an increment of 51.57 % in biogas yield while codigesting with lime and more interestingly the digester with NaOH pretreatment results in 51.57% incremental biogas yield compared to the raw WH.

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using water hyacinth (WH) as growth media. It was carried out using different treatments, acid, and base, characterized by microscope optic, swelling index, soil water retention, and observing the growth of mung bean seeds for seven days. The results showed that the highest swelling index was NaOH solution treatment in WH with a 2.5 – 2 cm diameter at 560%. It was also shown that soil samples using WH with NaOH treatment can retain water, enhancing mung bean seeds’ rapid growth. Therefore, this preliminary study shows the potential use of WH as growth media.

Abstract: This study aims to determine the absorption and ability of hydrogels to hold water. The hydrogel was synthesized using the freeze-thaw method, then the absorption ability and water retention time in the hydrogel were tested and characterized by FTIR and trinocular stereo microscope. The FTIR results showed that the resulting hydrogel had N–H, O–H, aliphatic C–H, bend N–H, C–O, and C–N functional groups. The highest absorption of the hydrogel with a ratio of cellulose:chitosan:EDTA variations of 2:2.25:0.25 (g) respectively, which was 287.46% and the appearance of the hydrogel under a microscope showed that the structure of the hydrogel was rather hollow, so that it affected its absorption.