New batch and continuous systems for converting hydrogen from water hyacinth

Abstract

Water hyacinth was the chosen alternative biomass for H2 production in this study. A batch and a continuous pilot plant systems are proposed. A batch system of 500 ml capacity was developed first for finding an appropriate biomass ratio which was found to be 2.5%wt. Results from the batch system was used to construct a kinetic model of water hyacinth hydrolysis. The same biomass and water ratio was used in the continuous system. Besides water hyacinth, glucose and cellulose + lignin biomasses were tested. During processing, temperature, pressure, and electric consumption of the system were recorded. The quality and quantity of gas products were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). The water hyacinth biomass attained the highest rate of H2 production (providing energy of 11.43 kWh/mole of glucose). Comparing the batch and continuous pilot systems, the continuous system achieved 2.7 times more H2 mole% than the batch system did.