Regular Article

Experimental study of biogas production from water hyacinth

¹ Laboratory of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, National Advanced School of Engineering of Yaoundé, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 8390, Yaoundé, Cameroon
² Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Group of Mechanics, Materials and Acoustics, University of Ngaoundere, Post Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon

^* Corresponding author: bdjomsi@gmail.com

Received: 7 October 2022
Accepted: 6 April 2023

Abstract

In the Littoral and East regions of Cameroon, the proliferation of the water hyacinth threatens the conservation of biodiversity. Indeed, its rapid multiplication asphyxiates fish and promotes malaria. Integrated pest management and many other methods have been used to eliminate this plant, but it persists, endangering the eco-systemic balance of marine environments. The efficient management of this plant remains a challenge. The aim of this study is to contribute to the implementation of a water hyacinth management protocol. The idea was to use this plant not only for natural fertilizer for soil improvement but also as energy production (biogas). The tests were carried out at the HIMA application farm in the Abong-Mbang area. Experiments were conducted using 60-Liters batch digesters. In all three sets of experiments, combinations of water hyacinth, cow dung and chicken droppings were used. For water hyacinth alone, an average production of 70 L of biogas was recorded. The best yield was obtained for the mixture of water hyacinth (5 kg), cow dung (1.5 kg) and chicken droppings (1 kg) at 1/4 dilution, i.e. 179 L/kg of substrate. The results obtained are encouraging and are being effectively used. This technology can therefore be applied in areas infested by Eichhornia crassipes for the production of energy, compost and control of water hyacinth proliferation.