Eichhornia crassipes has become the world’s worst invasive aquatic weed due to its rapid proliferation rate, ecological adaptability and detrimental effects caused on environment, human health and economic development. A large number of weed management strategies such as physical removal, chemical methods and biological control agents are being used to control it. But various environmental and financial challenges are associated with these methods. On the other hand, water hyacinth has demonstrated abilities to be used as a raw material in various useful applications. In this review, different applications of water hyacinth have been discussed. The weed biomass can be used for bioremediation and bioadsorption of metals and pollutants; biogas and biofuel production, composting and vermicomposting, as feed for animals and fish; as carbon source for microbial growth; for various medicinal and other uses. Thus for the management of this noxious weed by large scale utilization can be an attractive and efficient method, which can replace the relatively ineffective conventional methods of weed management.

/pdf/beyond-biocontrol-water-hyacinth-opportunities-and-2tujime37e.pdf

Beyond Biocontrol: Water Hyacinth-Opportunities and Challenges

Water hyacinth, E. crassipes, an invasive water weed thrives in fresh water bodies causing serious environmental problems. In Kenya the weed has invaded Lake Victoria and poses great socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Currently the weed is harvested from the Lake and left in the open to rot and decay leading to loss of aesthetics, land and air pollution. There is therefore need for development of value addition and economic exploitation strategies. The aim of the study is to assess the potential for utilization of the weed as a renewable energy resource for biogas production. Samples were collected from Lake Victoria, pulped and blend with cow dung at a ratio of 3:1 as inoculum. The resultant mixture was mixed with water at a ratio of 1:1 and fed into a 6 m3 tubular digester. The digester was recharged with 20 kg after every three days. The temperature, pH variations, gas compositions, upgrading and gas yields were studied. The temperature ranged between 22.8°C - 36.6°C and pH 7.4 - 8.5. Biogas was found to contain 49% - 53% methane (CH4 ), 30% - 33% carbon dioxide (CO2 ), 5% - 6% nitrogen (N2 ) and traces of hydrogen sulphide (H2S). The biogas was upgraded using solid adsorbents and wet scrubbers increasing the methane content by up to 70% - 76%. The upgraded gas was used to power internal combustion engines coupled with an electricity generator and direct heat applications. The study concludes that E. crassipes is a potential feedstock for biogas production especially in areas where it is abundant.

/pdf/biogas-production-using-water-hyacinth-eicchornia-crassipes-40n574uk45.pdf

Biogas Production Using Water Hyacinth (Eicchornia crassipes) for Electricity Generation in Kenya

Indian energy scenario has been suffering from persistent problems of reliable supply of energy and environmental deterioration. Among various available renewable energy sources, India has abundance of bioenergy options that used since long time to meet the cooking and heating requirements. Bioenergy economy is totally dependent on market of supply and demands, interdependent to each other. However, traditional bioenergy applications were found as inefficient practice with harmful environment impacts. Modern bioenergy technologies have potential to fulfill the demand and supply gap of the country. Furthermore, they have high energy efficiency with low carbon emissions. Bioenergy technologies such as biogas, biodiesel, bio-ethanol and biomass gasification having potential for cooking, transport and power generation. Various bioenergy policies and programs have been introduced to accelerate the bioenergy in India in past years. However, country is unable to use adequate available potential of bioenergy options due to policy gaps. Implementation of bioenergy policy is allied with various challenges like technical, institutional, financial, environmental and social aspects. Indian government introduces the new bioenergy policy to accelerate the bioenergy based generation in India. Thus, this article attempts to explore and critically analyze the present bioenergy policies and possible options of recent Indian experiences for successful adoption of bioenergy. A survey based findings is also analyzed through logistic regression and linear regression to explain the pattern of awareness and willingness to pay for bioenergy technology with reference to biogas and improved cookstoves. We found that socio-economic variables are important parameters for the success of bioenergy policies in rural India.

Assessment of Indian bioenergy policy for sustainable environment and its impact for rural India: Strategic implementation and challenges

Waste‐Derived Heteroatom‐Doped Activated Carbon/Manganese Dioxide Trio‐Composite for Supercapacitor Applications

It is noteworthy that ammoniacal nitrogen contamination in wastewater has reportedly posed a great threat to the environment Although there are several conventional technologies being employed to remediate ammoniacal nitrogen contamination in wastewater, they are not sustainable and cost-effective Along this line, the present study aims to highlight the significance of green chemistry characteristics of phytoremediation in nitrogen for wastewater treatment Notably, ammoniacal nitrogen can be found in many types of sources and it brings harmful effects to the environment Hence, the present study also reviews the phytoremediation of nitrogen and describes its green chemistry characteristics Additionally, the different types of wastewater contaminants and their effects on phytoremediation and the phytoremediation consideration in wastewater treatment application and sustainable waste management of harvested aquatic macrophytes were reviewed Finally, the present study explicates the future perspectives of phytoremediation Based on the reviews, it can be concluded that green chemistry characteristics of phytoremediation in nitrogen have proved that it is sustainable and cost-effective in relation to other existing ammoniacal nitrogen remediation technologies Therefore, it can be deduced that a cheaper and more environmental friendly ammoniacal nitrogen technology can be achieved with the utilization of phytoremediation in wastewater treatment

/pdf/phytoremediation-of-nitrogen-as-green-chemistry-for-4jdh34auiz.pdf

Phytoremediation of Nitrogen as Green Chemistry for Wastewater Treatment System

There is an increasing need to replace conventional energy with the renewable energy to save our natural resources and our environment. Bio-energy seems to be the most probable solution to this crisis. In this study, the biogas production potential of the mixture of water chestnut, water hyacinth and cow dung in the ratio of 1:1:2 has been discussed. The three variants were charged into a 20L portable bio-digester in the ratio of 1:1 with water. They were subjected to anaerobic digestion under a 35 day retention period and mesophilic temperature range of 26 o C-35 o C. Volume of per day biogas production was measured along with the retention time. Generation of biogas from a mixture of aquatic weeds and cow dung upholds the concept of waste to wealth in enhancing sustainability of development. The biogas generated can be utilized by producing energy from its combustion.

Biogas Production from a mixture of Water Hyacinth, Water Chestnut and Cow Dung

In this paper, the economic feasibility of substituting LPG with biogas for an Indian University hostel has been discussed. The University hostels daily generate huge amount of biomass in the form of kitchen waste. This kitchen waste can be utilized to produce biogas, which can be further used in the hostel mess as an alternate to LPG. Economic factors for the suitable bio -digester design and the feasibility of its replacement in the long run have been studied in this paper.

Economic Feasibility Of Substituting LPG With Biogas For

In this paper, the economic feasibility of substituting LPG with biogas for an Indian University hostel has been discussed. The University hostels daily generate huge amount of biomass in the form of kitchen waste. This kitchen waste can be utilized to produce biogas, which can be further used in the hostel mess as an alternate to LPG. Economic factors for the suitable bio-digester design and the feasibility of its replacement in the long run have been studied in this paper.

/pdf/economic-feasibility-of-substituting-lpg-with-biogas-for-41zt6a5wag.pdf

Economic feasibility of substituting LPG with biogas for MANIT hostels.

In this paper, a novel design of biomass battery has been introduced for providingelectricity to meet the lighting requirements of rural household using biomass. A biomass battery isdesigned, developed and tested using cow dung as the raw material. This is done via anaerobicdigestion of the cow dung, and power generation driven by the ions produced henceforth. Thevoltage and power output is estimated for the proposed system. It is for the first time that such ahigh voltage is obtained from cow dung fed biomass battery. The output characteristics of thisnovel battery design have also been compared with the previously designed battery.

/pdf/a-novel-design-of-multi-chambered-biomass-battery-555ko2odsh.pdf

A Novel Design of Multi-Chambered Biomass Battery

A quantitative representation of the rainfall infiltration process at different spatial scales is needed for understanding and modeling hydrologic processes. Some point infiltration models and their extensions to incorporate complex mechanisms, such as temporal variation of applied water, are presented. At larger scales, spatial heterogeneity becomes important, and various upscaling methods are discussed with a focus on the estimation of field-averaged responses using physical models with probability distribution functions to represent the spatial variation in saturated hydraulic conductivity and/or spatio-temporal variation in rainfall. Challenges facing modeling of field-scale infiltration and runoff are illustrated through a case study. Recent advances made in the field and current challenges are also noted. 

Abhishek Goyal

Papers

Biogas Production from a mixture of Water Hyacinth, Water Chestnut and Cow Dung

Economic Feasibility Of Substituting LPG With Biogas For

Economic feasibility of substituting LPG with biogas for MANIT hostels.

A Novel Design of Multi-Chambered Biomass Battery

Rainfall and infiltration