Small Scale Investigation of the Potential of Solar Drying of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes) as A Control Measure in Makurdi

Abstract

Water hyacinth is the world's worst water weed that is responsible for many environmental and economical problems. Nigerian fresh waters have been infested with this aquatic weed. In this work, a Natural Convection Mixed Mode Solar Dryer for drying water hyacinth to about 10% of its moisture content was constructed and tested as a component of controlling its infestation of the River Benue. The performance of the dryer was compared with the traditional open–air sun drying as the control for drying water hyacinth in Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. The water hyacinth was dried for 8 hours each day for 4 days. 500g of water hyacinth on wet basis was dehydrated by about 437g on dry basis in 20 hours in the dryer while the control required 32 hours. The dryer was found to be technically more suitable for drying water hyacinth both in terms of the drying rate and quality of the dried product.