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Environmental, mechanical, and biochemical benefits of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

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Abstract

Water hyacinth (WH) has high tolerance in extreme environmental conditions. Here, we examined the potentials of WH (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) solms) to remove excess nutrients from sewage wastewater. We used four prototypes of water systems: prototypes A (WH + underlay water) and C (WH + sewage water), whereas prototypes B and D were experimental control for A and C, respectively. For prototype A, the percentage removal efficiencies (%Re) for nitrate and phosphate achieved were 75.12 ± 4.22% and 78.90 ± 8.72%, respectively, with a pH increase from 6.29 to 7.69; whereas for prototype C, the values were 54.7 ± 8.11% and 86.10 ± 7.34%, respectively, with a pH decrease from 8.13 to 7.15. For the 3-week retention time, the biomass weight increased in both prototype A (33.26%; \( \overline{x} \) rate = 15.46 g/week) and prototype C (26.43%; \( \overline{x} \) rate = 12.54 g/week). Further, the respective mechanical strength and nutritional values of the WH’s fiber and the organic extracts were examined. The air-dried WH stem showed an average tensile stress of 0.04 MPa on a load at maximum stress of 137.1 N. By comparison, a strand of WH has a tensile strength of 14 MPa, inferior to 15, 61, and 400 MPa shown by timber, wood, and steel, respectively. However, by knitting, four strands of WH yielded a much-improved tensile strength of 315 MPa. Finally, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis of the plant’s extract showed that it contains 35.51% oleic acid, a nutritional extract of high value. Thence, we established a profound economic significance of WH, a macrophyte with latent immense benefits.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the contributions of our colleague Nasifudeen O. Afolabi of the Department of Marine Science and Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, who assisted some part of the environmental monitoring in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering and Management Research Group, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Adedeji Adebukola Adelodun

  2. Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Adedeji Adebukola Adelodun

  3. Department of Marine Science & Technology, School of Earth & Mineral Sciences, The Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria

    Usman Olamide Hassan & Victor Oluwatobi Nwachuckwu

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  1. Adedeji Adebukola Adelodun
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  2. Usman Olamide Hassan
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  3. Victor Oluwatobi Nwachuckwu
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Correspondence to Adedeji Adebukola Adelodun.

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Adelodun, A.A., Hassan, U.O. & Nwachuckwu, V. Environmental, mechanical, and biochemical benefits of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 30210–30221 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09221-1

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