Biogas production potential of aquatic weeds as the next-generation feedstock for Bioenergy production: A Review

Abstract

Abstract Aquatic weeds have exceptionally high reproduction rates, are rich in cellulose and hemicellulose, and contain a negligible amount of lignin, making them an ideal crop for the next generation of biofuels. Previously reported studies proposed that water hyacinth, water lettuce, common duckweeds, and water spinach can be managed or utilized using different advanced techniques, while anaerobic digestion is one of the feasible and cost-effective techniques to manage these biowastes. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential of utilizing four common aquatic weed species (water hyacinth, water lettuce, common duckweeds, and water spinach) as substrates for anaerobic digestion in order to produce biogas. The high reproduction rates, high cellulose and hemicellulose content, coupled with low lignin content, of these aquatic weeds make them ideal candidates for this purpose. The study evaluated the feasibility of anaerobic digestion as a management method for these aquatic weeds, which are often considered invasive and difficult to control. The study provides an overview of the characteristics and management strategies of these aquatic weeds in relation to biogas production, with possible future developments in the field.