Effect of ionic liquid pretreatment on the composition, structure and biogas production of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

The effect of the pretreatment of water hyacinth with ionic liquid and co-solvent on the lignocellulosic composition, structural change and biogas production was evaluated in this study. The results from regenerated water hyacinth indicate that, the content of the lignocellulosic composition was changed, the crystallinity of the structure was decreased, and the surface became more porous. After the pretreatment with 1-N-butyl-3-methyimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl)/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) under 120 °C for 120 min, the cellulose content of regenerated water hyacinth was increased by 27.9%, 49.2% of the lignin was removed, and the biogas yield was increased by 97.6% as compared with unpretreated water hyacinth. The ionic liquids and co-solvents were successfully recovered by forming aqueous biphasic systems with K3PO4.