Utilization of Water Hyacinth Biomass As a Reinforcement For Sustainable Polymer Composites: A Critical Review of Potential, Challenges, and Development Directions

Pemanfaatan Biomassa Enceng Gondok Sebagai Penguat Komposit Polimer Berkelanjutan: Tinjauan Kritis Potensi, Tantangan, dan Arah Pengembangan

Abstract

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an invasive aquatic weed that often disrupts irrigation channels, water quality, and agricultural water resource management, but also has the potential to be a source of lignocellulosic biomass for the development of sustainable materials. This article presents a critical review of the utilization of water hyacinth fiber as a reinforcement for polymer-based composites by evaluating fiber characteristics, composite mechanical performance, technical challenges, and development opportunities. The results of the study indicate that despite water hyacinth fiber's low density, abundant availability, and relatively low cost, the improvement in the resulting composite's mechanical properties is still inconsistent due to weak fiber-matrix interfacial bonding, high porosity, and variability in fiber properties influenced by biological conditions and extraction methods. This review confirms that water hyacinth is more prospective for non-structural and semi-structural applications than as a primary structural reinforcement. In addition, fiber surface treatment, hybrid composite development, and filler integration are identified as key strategies to improve material performance. From a biosystems and agricultural engineering perspective, the use of water hyacinth as a composite raw material offers a promising approach in the management of aquatic weed biomass, the implementation of a circular economy, and the development of environmentally friendly materials with added value for the agricultural sector and sustainable management of biological resources.