ORCID
0000-0002-1343-6255
Abstract
Water hyacinth (WH) is a highly invasive tropical aquatic weed with high holocellulose and low lignin content, making it a promising lignocellulosic feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production. Producing bioethanol from WH offers a sustainable approach to simultaneously managing invasive biomass and producing renewable energy. This review critically evaluates recent advancements in bioethanol production from WH by examining pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation technologies reported between 2014 and 2024. A PRISMA-guided literature search was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, and fifty-nine original research articles were selected for analysis. The reviewed studies were comparatively assessed based on pretreatment strategies, hydrolysis methods, fermentation approaches, ethanol yields, process efficiencies, advantages, and limitations. The findings indicate that integrated pretreatment strategies combined with optimized enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation generally achieve higher ethanol yields than conventional single-step processes. However, process efficiency remains constrained by biomass recalcitrance, fermentation inhibitors, and challenges associated with large-scale implementation. This review further identifies the strengths and limitations of current technologies, highlights recent technological advancements, and discusses key research gaps and future opportunities.
Recommended Citation
Matola, U. A., Said, M. M., Kalantzi, O., & Temu, A. K. (2026). Recent Advancements in Bioethanol Production from Water Hyacinth: A Review. Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET), 45(2), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.65085/2619-8789.1026
Publisher Name
University of Dar es Salaam
Included in
Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Commons, Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Commons, Nuclear Engineering Commons, Process Control and Systems Commons, Transportation Engineering Commons