Bioethanol from water hyacinth through coupled microwave-alkaline pretreatment method: fermentation optimization

Water hyacinth (WH), as an aquatic weed with high cellulose and low lignin content, presents a promising source for bioethanol production, addressing energy demands and environmental concerns. Its utilization involves pretreatment processes to break down cellulose into fermentable sugars, which can then be converted into ethanol, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional biofuel sources like starch and sugar-based crops. This approach helps mitigate issues related to food security and promotes environmentally friendly energy solutions by leveraging lingo-cellulosic biomass that does not compete with food supplies. The study successfully optimized water hyacinth hydrolysis for biofuel production by utilizing ideal conditions such as 500-watt microwave power, 1.5% NaOH concentration, and a 30-minute residence period, resulting in a high reducing sugar concentration of 347.25 mg/g, which is crucial for efficient fermentation and ethanol yield. The research achieved a bioethanol yield of 14.16 g/l by optimizing fermentation conditions using Design Expert software, with ideal parameters of 33.5 °C, pH 5.3, and 62 h of incubation. This approach drive water hyacinth, an invasive plant, to enhance biomass processing and fermentation efficiency, providing a sustainable solution that addresses ecological challenges while promoting renewable energy production.