Evaluation of the quality of biodiesel produced from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the quality of biofuel and other active compounds from the invasive water hyacinth. The water hyacinth samples were collected from Lake Victoria and the biofuel (biodiesel and bioethanol) was produced from the water hyacinth oil extract. The biofuel lipids were determined in addition to physio-chemically characteristics of the produced biodiesel. The obtained results indicated that, water hyacinth samples showed variable lipid contents (10.45%), which by transesterification produced biodiesels (6.36%) and sediment (pigments+glycerol). The pH (6) of the produced biodiesel was also determined. This study has shown that the amount of oil from water hyacinth ranges from 5.6% to 10.45% and the percentage yield is 3.36%.