Deptt. of Farm Machinery and Power Engg., College of Technology and Engg., Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur - 313 001. (E-mail of first author:
Water Hyacinth (Eichhomia crassipes) is an aquatic weed containing over 90% water. It spreads profusely and chokes the water body. Sporadic manual cleaning does not control its growth and proliferation. Chemical control is hazardous, as the water body in which it grows is used by human and cattle. Control of water hyacinth may be possible by utilizing it in large quantities for converting into useful products such as Insulation Mill Boards (IMB) to be used in villages and urban areas. IMB were made of thickness 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0mm from green water hyacinth plant pulp using binders, namely, waste paper pulp, bentonite clay and wheat straw in blending ratios 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50. The whole water hyacinth plants were chopped into 10-25mm size pieces and made into pulp by passing through screw press for liquid expulsion. A new simple to use technology comprising blending, shaking, pressing and drying was developed to make boards from the pulp.
