Parametric study of slow pyrolysis of invasive water hyacinth for energy recovery towards cleaner blue carbon technologies

The urgent need for cleaner energy sources has driven exploration into innovative and sustainable solutions. This study investigates the potential of the invasive aquatic plant, the water hyacinth, to contribute to both energy recovery and blue carbon sequestration. Employing slow pyrolysis, an emerging technology for efficient biomass conversion, this study examines the influence of temperature (300-500°C) and residence time (30-90 minutes) on the production of bio-oil and biochar from water hyacinth in a fixed-bed reactor. The results indicate that while the biochar yield (maximum of 43.74% at 400°C, 30 minutes) was not significantly affected by the tested parameters, the bio-oil yield increased significantly with residence time. Maximum bio-oil yields of 34.34% and 34.03% were achieved at 400°C and 500°C, respectively, both with a 90-minute residence time. The resulting bio-oil exhibited a high heating value of up to 25.84 MJ/kg, suggesting its potential as a renewable fuel. FTIR analysis identified functional groups within the bio-oil, indicating its suitability as a chemical feedstock. This study concludes that slow pyrolysis of the invasive water hyacinth offers a promising pathway for simultaneous energy recovery and blue carbon sequestration, contributing to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future while also addressing the issue of invasive species proliferation. The dual benefit of waste management and renewable energy generation makes this a highly attractive approach for sustainable development, particularly in regions afflicted by water hyacinth overgrowth.