Second-generation bioethanol production from water hyacinth and duckweed in Izmir: A case study

Water hyacinth and duckweed are both aquatic plants that live in clean water and wastewater. They have excellent filtration ability of nitrogen and supply oxygen to water while cleaning it up. The vegetative reproduction rates of these two plants are really high and it is about 8 days that of duplication time. Because of these features, water hyacinth and duckweed are useful for wastewater treatment. Also production of second-generation bioethanol from these plants is proper due to their cellulose ratios and carbohydrate potentials. In this study, the process of bioethanol production from water hyacinth and duckweed was studied by taking into account the potential of cultivation values and usability in wastewater treatment procedures in Izmir. Different microorganisms, yeast and bacteria (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia stipitis, and Clostridium thermocellum) have been considered to identify the best process of ethanol production, considering Turkey's policy regarding biofuels.