Ash composition, sintering behavior, and mineral transformation in water hyacinth pellet combustion: SEM-EDX and XRD analysis
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Author |
Vo Cong Anh, Pham Viet Hung, Do Thanh Tien, Ve Quoc Linh, Tran Duc Hanh, Khuong Anh Son and Trinh Ngoc Dat
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e-ISSN |
1819-6608 |
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On Pages
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1535-1544
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Volume No. |
20
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Issue No. |
18
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Issue Date |
December 30, 2025
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DOI |
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Keywords |
water hyacinth, pellet combustion, ash characterization, SEM-EDX, XRD.
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Abstract
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), an invasive aquatic plant with high biomass yield, has emerged as a potential feedstock for renewable energy. This study investigates the ash formation behavior and compositional transformation of water hyacinth pellets combusted at 600-900°C in a laboratory-scale muffle furnace. Comprehensive analyses using SEM-EDX and XRD are conducted to characterize ash morphology, elemental content, and mineral phases across the temperature range. Results show that combustion temperature is a key factor that influences the ash composition and structure. At 600°C, the ash retains a high concentration of volatile nutrients, particularly potassium (15-20 wt%) and chlorine (17-21 wt%), but minimal sintering is observed. With increasing temperature, potassium and chlorine volatilize significantly, leading to a sharp decrease in their concentrations at 900°C. Meanwhile, less volatile elements such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus become enriched in the residual ash. XRD analysis reveals the persistence of crystalline salts like sylvite (KCl), halite (NaCl), quartz (SiO₂), and magnetite (Fe3O4) across all temperatures, with the formation of magnesioferrite (MgFe2O4) at 900°C. This indicates high-temperature phase transformation. SEM images illustrate the progressive sintering behavior of ash, evolving from porous particles at 600°C to dense, molten agglomerates at 900°C. This study provides scientific insights for optimizing combustion conditions and valorizing ash byproducts from water hyacinth biomass. It also supports sustainable utilization in decentralized energy systems and offers potential for reuse as fertilizer or soil amendments.
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