As Chemical Engineers of 21st century, we are facing two daunting challenges namely, Environmental Waste Management and Energy Crisis. As time goes by our natural resources are decreasing and finding newer sources of energy is becoming our prime concern. On the other hand a lot of weeds and harmful plants marked as environmental waste are causing a lot disturbance in the ecological balance. Here, we are converting Water Hyacinth (an environmental waste) into renewable energy meeting both the challenges simultaneously.

ABSTRACT

Water hyacinth is an aquatic plant with a

very high growth rate which removes

nutrient elements from water, outbreaks

covering water surfaces and

consumes most of the dissolved oxygen

leaving little for fish and other aquatic

species, which die off as a result. Renewable

energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight,

wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat,

which are renewable.

To produce Methane using Water Hyacinth the following are required: Digestion tanks Shredders Gas holdersPipes and other fittingsA supply of animal manure

The installation is made up of six discontinuous-type digesters, made of reinforced concrete, provide the environment essential for the bacterial activity that produces the biogas. Fresh water hyacinth is feed into the digester and animal waste of optimum proportion follows and then the fermentation takes place slowly. Produced Methane gas is collected and converted into electricity using a power generator.

BIOGAS PLANT USING WATER

HYACINTH

 Water Hyacinth is removed to produce Methane in this process, so river, pond and lakes can maintain an auspicious environment.Electricity problem in the rural areas can be solved by converting biogas into electricity, then it can be used for:

1. Lighting, Heating and Cooking

2. Irrigation and Threshing 3. Lifting and Pumping of

portable water 4. Feed Processing etc.

Electricity Consumption

per day

360 Unit

Required Methane 30.86 M3

Required Water Hyacinth 3.09 Ton

Cost of Electricity per unit Tk.2.14

NB: Water area of 100 decimal required.NB: Cost of Electricity per unit Tk.3.95 (REB)

Following Facts must be considered during Methane Production:•Digesters must be dis-continuous and fixed dome type.•Addition of cow dung will increase production•Water Hyacinth should be dried and cut into small pieces.A tabular presentation of electricity production using Water hyacinth to support 100 Families:

This indicates that large scale implementation of Water Hyacinth-Biogas Project is fairly feasible.

FEASIBILITY

Web link: http:www.google.comBook: Use Water Hyacinth!Keith Lindsey & Hans-Martin Hirt

REFERENCES

CONCLUSION

NANDINI DEV TUMPAMD. AMIRUL ISLAMSHAFIUL MUNIRMD. MEZBAH UDDINMD. TANVIR AHMED

A U T H O R S

Water Hyacinth-Biogas Project is an exceptionally prolific project

which not only manages an environment threat but also

produces methane gas, can be a great solution of electricity crisis in the rural areas of

Bangladesh. Being a remarkable breakthrough in the field of

waste management and recycling, if given priority it will

obviously proof its worth.

BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGYDEPT. OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING