Technical Feasibility of a Biodigester from Eichhornia Crassipes (Water Lily) for Biogas Production in Honduras.

Authors

Díaz, Wilson

Gutiérrez, Santiago

Villatoro, Héctor

Abstract

Lake Yojoa is the only natural lake in Honduras and from the 1980s to the present (2022) it is being affected by an aquatic plant called Eichhornia crassipes (water lily). Over the years, multiple projects have been implemented to control its reproduction, but they have not been successful. The water lily is considered an aquatic pest because of its high growth rate and rapid reproduction. This plant has brought several consequences in Lake Yojoa such as the obstruction and invasion of large areas on the shores of the lake impeding and delaying local fishermen when they go fishing. As an alternative to reduce the aquatic lily, this project proposes to evaluate the technical feasibility and viability of the implementation of a biodigester that uses the Eichhornia crassipes plant as a primary energy resource for the production of biogas. For this purpose, the proper process of how to extract and place the aquatic lily, the proper process of anaerobic digestion and the drying process of the aquatic lily are presented. The model and type of biodigester to be used, the design of the prototype where its feasibility and viability for the production of biogas, which is intended to be used as an alternative to LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), is presented. This is due to the high price of the LPG cylinder and its constant price increase. With the help of this project we intend to provide a solution to an environmental problem which is to try to put a stop to the reproduction of water lilies in the lake and in turn produce biogas and help multiple people around Lake Yojoa so they can implement this technique and can save the expense of buying LPG.