WATER HYACINTH PPT It is about the production of leather

Water hyacinth and leather making

1. PROCESSING OF VEGAN LEATHER AND OTHER PRODUCTS USING WATER HYACINTH { Eichhornia crassipes }

2. INTRODUCTION Aquatic weeds- Global issue Major characteristics of weeds -unwanted occurrence -undesirable features -ability to adapt to disturbed environment

3. DESCRIPTION Free floating perennial plant Broad thick ovate glossy leaves Can grow up to 1 metre in height Spongy bulbous stalk Feathery free hanging roots Reproduction: vegetative propagation and stolons Also capable of cloning itself Flower throughout the year, releases more than 3000 seeds per year and could live upto 20 years.

4. Flowers are pollinated by long tongued bees and they can reproduce both sexually and clonally. The invasiveness of the hyacinth is related to its ability to clone itself and large patches are likely to all be part of the same genetic form. Purple violet flower makes it a popular ornamental plant

5. REMOVAL OF WATER HYACINTH FROM RIVERS, LAKES AND PONDS Manual removal (hand pull and pitch forks) Mechanical removal (boat , aquatic-harvester)

6. PROCESS TO MAKE WATER HYACINTH INTO VEGAN LEATHER Harvesting water hyacinth Sun drying for 5-7 days Fiber extraction Preparation of leather sheet Analyzing the properties of leather Finishing

7. HARVESTING AND DRYING Water hyacinth stem is fibrous and filled with water content. In order to transform those stems into usable material for handicrafts , they have to be dried first. This process can be done in several ways , but the best way is to let nature does the work. Natural heat from the sun is perfect for this job. Left out in the sun for 5-7 days , water hyacinth stems will be perfectly dried.

8. FIBER EXTRACTION There are many extraction methods such as mechanical extraction , chemical extraction , boiling extraction etc., The mechanical extraction was the first method used for the extraction of w ater hyacinth fibers . The outer shell of the stem was continuously scraped to obtain fibers . Mechanical extraction produced fibers fast and efficient results with low cost.

9. PREPARATION OF LEATHER SHEET After being sun-dried , water hyacinth stems could be wetted by dripping water. Then the dried stems are cut into equal halves and remove the inner surface of stem. Outer layer of stem is used and it is pasted by using natural gums forming a layer of sheet. Then it is ironed and processed to fill the pores present in the leather sheet. Applying of anti-fungal agents for protection.

10. ANALYZING THE PROPERTIES OF LEATHER The following tests is used to determine the properties of leather: Resistance to wetting test Tear load test Relative stiffness test Tensile strength test Color fastness test

11. FINISHING By applying a few thin coats of varnish oil on water hyacinth fiber , products would have more shiny finish which would preserve the appearance longer as well as provide more anti-fungal property.

12. BENEFITS OF VEGAN LEATHER Transformation of weeds like water hyacinths through reprocessing into artificial leather. Vegan leather is an eco-friendly material and easily bio-degradable This leather would be cost-effective. Making water hyacinths for processing of leather goods can also help to reduce amount of water hyacinth like weeds to invasively spread around the water bodies. Being a great substitute for the genuine animal leather in making various leather goods. Vegan leather can also reduce the usage of animal leather. It also provides job opportunities for processing of waste weeds into useful handicrafts.

13. FUTURE PROSPECTS AND GROWTH OF VEGAN LEATHER Vegan leather goods are defined as the accessories which is made up of synthetic leather making their outfitted life extremely enhanced and making the product eco-friendly. Rising usage of leather results in highly developed appeal of the product and making the product consist of more features and characteristics. The global vegan leather goods market is expected to grow at a progressive CAGR during the forecast period.

14. OTHER PRODUCTS FROM WATER HYACINTH ORGANIC MANURE BIOGAS PAPER BAGS MATS BASKETS

15. STEPS TO MAKING WATER HYACINTH PAPER Harvest hyacinth plants, chop off roots and leaves. Cook chopped hyacinth on low flame for about three hours. Sieve cooked chopped hyacinth into bowl. Pour into a blender or mixing machine along with recycled paper that has been mashed into pulp and left in a concentrate for a few days. Blend the mixture. Pour out mixed hyacinth and recycled paper concentrate into a giant tank of water to cool. Remove unwanted coarse material from the concentrate. Arrange pulp on screen rectangular wooden frames and dry for about five to six hours. Flatten the Hyacinth paper if desired, the paper is ready to be made into postcards, paper products. Fetching cooked Hyacinth weed from the pot to begin the papermaking process Mashed paper concentrate meets cooked chopped Hyacinth in the blending machine