Studies on ethanol production from water hyacinth—A review

With industrial development growing rapidly, there is a need for environmentally sustainable energy sources. Ethanol from biomass, bioethanol, is an attractive, sustainable energy fuel source for transportation. Based on the premise that fuel bioethanol can contribute to a cleaner environment and with the implementation of environmental protection laws in many countries, demand for this fuel is increasing. Efficient ethanol production is based on optimized processes where utilization of cheap substrates is highly demanding. Utilization of different types of lignocellulosic materials can be considered for production of ethanol. Among various types of lignocellulosic substances water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a potential resource available in many tropical regions of the world. It is a noxious aquatic weed which grows fast. A considerable amount of research work is in progress for its bioconversion into ethanol using two-sequential steps of hydrolysis and fermentation. This paper reviews the bioconversion of water hyacinth to ethanol.