Proximate Analysis and Calorific Value of Water Hyacinth Char Briquettes as Alternative Fuel

Abstract

This study aimed to utilize water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as a renewable alternative fuel. Water hyacinth, which grows abundantly and often becomes an aquatic weed in Indonesian waters, possesses substantial biomass potential. The research stages included the production of biobriquettes through drying, carbonization, and molding processes. Briquette characterization involved proximate analysis to determine moisture content, ash content, volatile matter content, fixed carbon content, and calorific value. The proximate analysis results showed that water hyacinth briquettes had average values of 12.233% moisture content, 18.315% ash content, 50.900% volatile matter content, and 18.552% fixed carbon content. The average calorific value obtained was 4049.097 cal/g. These findings contribute to the development of local biomass energy by providing proximate characteristics and calorific value data of water hyacinth biobriquettes as a basis for the sustainable utilization of aquatic biomass resources.