Water Hyacinths–biomass Production Potential at a Waste Water Treatment Plant

The growth of Eichhornia crassipes under outdoor conditions was examined during a 42-day test in a wastewater treatment plants primary clarifier, trickling filter and secondary clarifier using municipal residential wastewater as the chosen supplier of nutrients.

Test results showed that Eichhorn crassipes plants gained a significant amount of biomass in a short period. Plants could increase their biomass 15.1-fold from the initial weight of 457.6 g to 6898.8 g for the primary clarifier and 12.6-fold from the initial weight of 288.2 g to 3635.0 g for the secondary clarifier. Plant growth in the trickling filter was limited by factors such has as observed bird picking, Cladophra algae growth in the trickling filter and on the roots of Eichhorn crassipes, and intermittent exposure to nutrients contained in the municipal residential wastewater.