Aquatic weeds transform and degrade the ecosystems which they invade, impacting various aspects of their surroundings ranging from the community level to disrupting important processes affecting ecosystem services. All of the major aquatic weeds of South Africa are found in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area. Landowners, whether private or public, are legally obliged to manage the listed invasive species through applying environmentally acceptable methodologies. This thesis provides an overview of the strategic management options, prevention, early detection, rapid response and eradication of new invasions, and containment and control species of established species. It discusses the different control methods available for managing aquatic weeds, namely mechanical, manual, chemical and biological, and the integration of different methods to improve their effectiveness. Although various studies have shown that biological control is the most cost–effective, environmentally-friendly and sustainable method, it is not yet fully integrated into weed management programmes in South Africa. In addition, the successes achieved in other parts of the world with the control of water hyacinth through biological control have not been repeated in the urban environment, despite the fact that South Africa has the highest number of biological control agents available for the weed. Urbanisation puts pressure on the natural environment and ecosystem functioning. Nutrient-enriched waters support aquatic weed growth and pose a challenge to the management thereof, in particular with regard to integrating biological control into management programmes. The aims of this study were to determine the reasons for the lack of integration of biological control into weed management programmes in South Africa, to determine the feasibility of integrating biological control in aquatic weed management programmes in a complex urban environmental and socio-political landscape by means of three case studies in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area, which showed that biological control is feasible in urban environments and should be considered. Two surveys were conducted to determine the reasons for the lack of integration of biological control into weed management programmes. The surveys showed that there is a gap between research and implementation as a result of poor communication, non-supporting institutional arrangements and a lack of appropriate capacity and skills at the implementation level. Recommendations were offered to address these issues.

Resumo: A região de Ilha Solteira apresenta em sua maior extensão, como cobertura vegetal, o cerrado. No final da década de 60, com a construção da Usina Hidrelétrica de Ilha Solteira, algumas áreas foram desmatadas e serviram como .área de empréstimo. Os solos pertencentes a estas localidades foram subtraídos e estas áreas ficaram com suas características químicas e biológicas distantes das ideais. O desenvolvimento da vegetação depende das condições do substrato; melhorias de alguns dos atributos do subsolo destas áreas poderiam ser obtidos com a adição de resíduos orgânicos e/ou adubos químicos. O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o uso de resíduos orgânicos no crescimento do Stryphnodendron polyphyllum e como recondicionantes de subsolo degradado. A área utilizada para o experimento faz parte da Fazenda Experimental de Pesquisa e Extensão - FEPE, UNESP - Ilha Solteira, em Selvíria . MS. O subsolo continua a apresentar caráter ácido e pobre em nutrientes, após um ano de avaliação. O diâmetro do colo e altura de planta apresentam resultados crescentes ao longo do período, com os maiores valores para os tratamentos que receberam calagem, N + P e resíduos orgânicos. O carbono da biomassa, ao longo do experimento, apresentou tendências à estabilização enquanto que o quociente metabólico diminuiu no mesmo período. A colonização micorrízica e número de esporos foram influenciados positivamente pela presença de resíduos orgânicos, os quais apresentaram os maiores valores. / Abstract: Ilha Solteira region is covered for the most by cerrado as vegetation. In the late 60s as a result of the building of Hydroelectric Power Station of Ilha Solteira, some areas have been deforested and were used as loan areas. Thus, the soils belonging to these locations were subtracted and these areas became chemically poor soils with both physical and biological properties far from the ideal ones. The vegetation development depends on the substrate conditions; the improvement of some subsoil features in these areas could be obtained by adding organic residues and/or chemical fertilizers. This work aimed at evaluating the use of organic residues in the growth of Stryphnodendron polyphyllum and as a reconditioner of degraded subsoil. The area taken for the experiment is part of the Experimental Farm of Teaching and Research, FEPE, UNESP - Ilha Solteira, in Selvíria . MS. However, the subsoil keeps presenting the same acid characteristic and poor nutrient levels after a year of assessment. The column diameter and the height of the plant presented increasing results during the period; the highest values were for the treatments which received liming, N + P and organic residues. During the experiment, the carbon of the microbe biomass presented tendencies to the stabilization while the metabolic quotient decreased in the same period. The mycorrhization and the number of the spores were positively influenced by the presence of organic residues, showing the highest values. / Orientador: Ana Maria Rodrigues Cassiolato / Coorientador: Kátia Luciene Maltoni / Banca: Luiz Antonio Graciolli / Banca: Miguel Luiz Menezes de Freitas / Mestre

The characteristics of anaerobic batch co-digestion of water hyacinth (WH) with pig manure (PM) under seven mixing ratio 100%WH; 80%WH : 20%PM; 60%WH : 40%PM; 50%WH : 50%PM; 40%WH : 60%PM; 20%WH : 80%PM and 100%PM were investigated, each treatment was conducted in five replications with daily loading rate at 1 gVS.L-1.day-1. During the anaerobic digestion process of 60 days, maximum biogas production occurred in two periods, the first stage from 12- 22 days and second stage from 30 - 35 days. The maximum daily biogas productions from each stage were 17.2 L.day-1 and 15.1 L.day-1, respectively. The cumulative biogas production varied between 60 L (100%PM) and 360 L (60%WH : 40%PM). The results showed that the biogas yields of co-digestion 40- 80%WH were higher from 34.6 to 56.1% in comparison with 100%PM and from 109 to 143% in comparison with 100%WH. When mixing with WH, treatments were received more methane and the methane contents were higher than 45% (v/v) that good for energy using purposes. / Nghiên cứu được thực hiện nhằm khảo sát khả năng gia tăng lượng khí sinh học khi tiến hành đồng phân hủy yếm khí lục bình (WH) và phân heo (PM) ở các tỉ lệ phối trộn khác nhau gồm 100%WH; 80%WH : 20%PM; 60%WH : 40%PM; 50%WH : 50%PM; 40%WH : 60%PM; 20%WH : 80%PM và 100%PM. Các nghiệm thức được nạp lượng nguyên liệu là 1 gVS.L-1.ngày-1 và bố trí lặp lại 5 lần. Theo dõi quá trình phân hủy của các nghiệm thức trong 60 ngày ghi nhận có 2 khoảng thời gian lượng khí sản sinh nhiều nhất - giai đoạn 1 từ ngày 12 đến 22, giai đoạn 2 từ ngày 30 đến 35. Lượng khí sản sinh cao nhất tương ứng trong mỗi giai đoạn là 17.2 L.ngày-1 và 15.1 L.ngày-1. Lượng khí tích lũy trong suốt thời gian thí nghiệm ghi nhận thấp nhất ở nghiệm thức 100%PM đạt 60 L, và cao nhất ở nghiệm thức 60%WH : 40%PM đạt 360 L. Năng suất khí sinh ra của các nghiệm thức phối trộn lục bình từ 40 đến 80% cao hơn từ 34,6 đến 56,1% so với nghiệm thức 100%PM và cao hơn từ 109% đến 143% so với nghiệm thức 100%WH. Hàm lượng mê-tan sinh ra từ các nghiệm thức có phối trộn lục bình ổn định trong khoảng > 45% đảm bảo nhiệt lượng cho nhu cầu sử dụng năng lượng.

Domestic wastewater is one of the most interested environmental issues in Vietnam, especially in big cities and suburban residential areas. Most of the wastewater was not treated in the right way before discharging to environment. In this research, the author used water hyacinth as a main aquatic plant in aquatic pond model to treat wastewater. The experiment was operated continuously in 1 year with hydraulic retention time (HRT) is 11 and 18 days. Hydraulic loading rate (HRL) is 300 and 500 m3/ha/day, respectively. Treatment efficiency of the model for TSS is 90% (remaining 6 -12mg/l); COD, BOD5 is 63 - 81% (remaining 10 - 48mg/l); TP is 48 – 50% (remaining 3.5 - 9.8mg/l); TKN is 63 - 75% (remaining 8 - 17mg/l). Polluted parameters in effluent were lower than A and B levels of Vietnam standard QCVN 14: 2008/BTNMT and QCVN 40: 2011/BTNMT. The doubling time of water hyacinth in summer is 18days, and in autumn and winter is 28.5 days. Experiment results showed that we can use water hyacinth in aquatic pond to treat domestic wastewater with medium scale. We can apply this natural treatment method for residential areas by utilizing existing natural ponds and abandoned agricultural land with capacity up to 500m3/ha day. However, to get better efficiency we should combine with other aquatic plant species to treat wastewater and improve environmental landscape. / Nước thải – xử lý nước thải sinh hoạt hiện đang là một trong những vấn đề môi trường được quan tâm tại Việt Nam nhất là tại các thành phố lớn và các khu dân cư. Hầu hết lượng nước thải chưa được xử lý đúng cách trước khi thải ra môi trường. Trong nghiên cứu này, tác giả sử dụng mô hình hồ thủy sinh và sử dụng cây Bèo lục bình để xử lý nước thải sinh hoạt của một khu dân thuộc huyện Từ Liêm, tại khu vực này nước thải bị thải trực tiếp vào sông Nhuệ. Thực nghiệm đã được tiến hành trong khoảng thời gian một năm, trải qua các mùa của khu vực miền Bắc với hai chế độ vận hành HRT là 18 và 11 ngày, tương ứng với tải trọng thủy lực HRL là 300 và 500 m3/ha/ngày. Kết quả cho thấy mô hình thủy sinh sử dụng cây bèo lục bình cho kết quả tốt, hiệu suất xử lý với các chất ô nhiễm đạt được như sau: chất rắn lơ lửng đạt 90%, COD, BOD5 đạt 63 - 81%, Phốt pho tổng giảm tới 48 -50%, Nitơ tổng giảm tới 63 - 75%. Hàm lượng các chất ô nhiễm trong nước thải đầu ra của mô hình đều thấp hơn ngưỡng A và B của các tiêu chuẩn QCVN 14: 2008/BTNMT và QCVN 40: 2011/BTNMT. Bên cạnh đó tác giả cũng đã xác định định được tốc độ sinh trưởng của cây bèo tại khu vực miền Bắc là 18 ngày vào mùa hè và 28.5 ngày vào mùa thu đông. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy có thể sử dụng bèo lục bình để xử lý nước thải sinh hoạt, với qui mô vừa và nhỏ và nên áp dụng cho các khu vực ven đô, nông thôn nơi có diện tích đất rộng hoặc tại các hồ sinh thái của các khu đô thị. Tuy nhiên, để hiệu quả tốt hơn ta cần kết hợp với nhiều loại thực vật thủy sinh khác để ngoài tác dụng xử lý nước thải mà còn tạo cảnh quan môi trường xung quanh.

The invasion of ecosystems by alien species is a growing threat to the delivery of ecosystem services. This study explored the spatial distribution of water hyacinth in the Benoni Lakes and made analysis of its impact on water availability and usability in order to understand the evolution and its propagation rates. The study used satellite imagery for lake level modelling using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems for calculations of area covered by weeds in each lake from 2002 to 2012.The modelling approach illustrates the potential usefulness in projecting invasive plants under climate change and enabled the quantification of long term changes in aquatic weeds. The results showed that aquatic infestations in lakes may be used as powerful predictors of correlations between plant abundance and climate change. The study therefore informs decision makers to identify areas where invasion is likely to occur and increase surveillance for early invaders. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an aquatic macrophyte originating from the Amazon basin. Due to its beautiful appearance it has been introduced into numerous countries across the world as an ornamental pond plant. It was introduced into South Africa in the early 1900s and has since reached pest proportions in many of the country’s fresh water bodies, causing significant economic and ecological losses. It is now considered to be the worst aquatic weed in South Africa. Efforts to control the spread of the weed began in the early 1970s and there have been some successes. Biological control has been used widely as an alternative to mechanical and chemical controls because it is cost-effective, self-sustaining and environmentally friendly. To date, six biological control agents have been introduced onto water hyacinth in South Africa. However, due to factors such as cold winter temperatures and interference from chemical control, the agent populations are occasionally knocked-down and thus the impact of biological control on the weed population is variable. In addition, many South African water systems are highly eutrophic, and in these systems the plant growth may be accelerated to such an extent that the negative impact of the agents’ herbivory is mitigated. One of the agents established on the weed is the galumnid mite Orthogalumna terebrantis, which originates from Uruguay. In South Africa, the mite was initially discovered on two water hyacinth infestations in the Mpumalanga Province in 1989 and it is now established at 17 sites across the country. Many biological control researchers believe that the mite is a good biological control agent but, prior to this thesis, little quantitative data existed to confirm the belief. Thus, this thesis is a post-release evaluation of O. terebrantis in which various aspects of the mite-plant relationship were investigated to determine the efficacy of the mite and thus better understand the role of the mite in the biological control programme of water hyacinth in South Africa. From laboratory experiments, in which mite densities were lower than densities occurring in the field, it was found that water hyacinth growth is largely unaffected by mite herbivory, except possibly at very high mite densities. When grown in high nutrient conditions the growth of the plant is so great that any affect the mite has is nullified. Plant growth is thus more affected by nutrients than by mite herbivory. However, mite feeding was also influenced by water nutrient levels and mite herbivory was greatest on plants grown in high nutrient conditions. The presence of the mite had a positive effect on the performance of the mirid Eccritotarsus catarinensis, such that the interactions of the two agents together had a greater negative impact on the plant’s growth than the individual agents had alone. Furthermore, water hyacinth physiological parameters, such as the plant’s photosynthetic ability, were negatively impacted by the mite, even at the very low mite densities used in the study. Plant growth rate is dependent on photosynthetic ability i.e. the rate of photosynthesis, and thus a decrease in the plant’s photosynthetic ability will eventually be translated into decreased plant growth rates which would ultimately result in the overall reduction of water hyacinth populations. In addition, temperature tolerance studies showed that the mite was tolerant of low temperatures. The mite already occurs at some of the coldest sites in South Africa. Therefore, the mite should be able to establish at all of the water hyacinth infestations in the country, but because it is a poor disperser it is unlikely to establish at new sites without human intervention. It is suggested that the mite be used as an additional biological control agent at sites where it does not yet occur, specifically at cold sites where some of the other, less cold-tolerant, agents have failed to establish. Finally, conditions of where, how many and how often the mite should be distributed to water hyacinth infestation in South Africa are discussed.

As atividades de mineração causam impactos significativos ao meio ambiente, pois o desenvolvimento dessa atividade implica supressão de vegetação, exposição do solo aos processos erosivos com alterações na quantidade e qualidade dos recursos hídricos superficiais e subterrâneos, além de causar poluição do ar, entre outros aspectos negativos. Uma alternativa para a recuperação de áreas degradadas é a rochagem, que consiste basicamente na incorporação de rochas/minerais ao solo. Uma fonte considerável de resíduos minerais para a rochagem é a indústria de beneficiamento de rochas ornamentais, pois em serrarias que produzem blocos de 20 mm de espessura, de 25 a 30% do bloco de granito são perdidos como partículas finas, considerando o fato de que o mercado brasileiro gera 240.000 t.ano-1, contabilizando apenas o mármore e o granito. O presente trabalho propõe a utilização de resíduos de corte de granito e resíduos orgânicos de Eichhornia crassipes, em consórcio na produção de um substrato rico em matéria orgânica e mineral, composto por micro e macro nutrientes essenciais à nutrição vegetal, favorecendo a recuperação de áreas degradadas por mineração. Desta forma, o presente trabalho objetivou verificar os efeitos da rochagem com resíduos de marmoraria (granito) e da aplicação de resíduos orgânicos de macrófita aquática aguapé (Eichhornia crassipes) sobre aspectos químicos e microbiológicos de um subsolo exposto e sobre o crescimento de capim pensacola (Paspalum notatum), uma gramínea nativa da América do Sul. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação e constou de 12 tratamentos, como segue: subsolo de área degradada com três doses de resíduos de marmoraria (8, 16 e 32 t. ha-1), combinadas com 8 t. ha-1 de resíduos orgânicos (aguapé), gerando 9 tratamentos, além de três adicionais, com solo de área degradada por mineração de argila vermelha preservado, utilizado como referência. Foram realizadas análises químicas e microbiológicas do solo, além de medidas de altura, massa seca e fresca da parte aérea e do sistema radicular das plantas. Os resultados indicam que os procedimentos com resíduos de granito e aguapé, contribuíram para melhorar as condições químicas e biológicas do solo e proporcionar bons resultados para as variáveis microbiológicas, enquanto as plantas apresentaram o maior crescimento nos tratamentos em que foram adicionados maiores concentrações de resíduos de marmoraria. A rochagem consorciada com macrófitas aquáticas proporcionou elevação da qualidade do solo exposto pela atividade, colaborando para recuperação de locais degradados e fechamento do ciclo de resíduos. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2017-04-20T13:37:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Rogerio Pires Santos.pdf: 3332728 bytes, checksum: 2b1a73f27e95f5e857ab6908bb71178e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-20T13:37:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Rogerio Pires Santos.pdf: 3332728 bytes, checksum: 2b1a73f27e95f5e857ab6908bb71178e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-19 / Mining activities cause significant impacts to the environment, since the development of this activity implies suppression of vegetation, soil exposure to erosive processes with changes in the quantity and quality of surface and underground water resources, besides causing air pollution, among other aspects Negative results. An alternative for the recovery of degraded areas is rock, which basically consists of incorporating rocks / minerals into the soil. A considerable source of mineral waste for rock is the ornamental stone industry, because in sawmills that produce 20 mm thick blocks, 25 to 30% of the granite block is lost as fine particles, considering the fact that The Brazilian market generates 240,000 t.-1, accounting for only marble and granite. The present work proposes the use of granite cutting residues and organic residues of Eichhornia crassipes, in a consortium in the production of a substrate rich in organic and mineral matter, composed of micro and macro nutrients essential to plant nutrition, favoring the recovery of degraded areas by mining. In this way, the present work aimed to verify the effects of rocks with marble and granite residues and the application of organic residues of aquatic macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes) on chemical and microbiological aspects of an exposed basement and on the growth of pensacola grass (Paspalum notatum), a grass native to South America. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and consisted of 12 treatments, as follows: degraded area subsoil with three doses of marble waste (8, 16 and 32. ha- 1), combined with 8 t. ha-1 of organic waste (water hyacinth), generating 9 treatments, in addition to three additional ones, with degraded area soil by mining of preserved red clay, used as reference. Soil chemical and microbiological analyzes were carried out, as well as measurements of height, dry and fresh mass of shoot and root system of plants. The results indicate that the procedures with granite and water hyacinth residues contributed to improve the chemical and biological conditions of the soil and to provide good results for the microbiological variables, while the plants presented the highest growth in the treatments in which were added higher concentrations of residues of marble work. The rock consortium with aquatic macrophytes gave rise to the quality of the soil exposed by the activity, collaborating for the recovery of degraded sites and closure of the waste cycle.

As atividades de mineração causam impactos significativos ao meio ambiente, pois o desenvolvimento dessa atividade implica supressão de vegetação, exposição do solo aos processos erosivos com alterações na quantidade e qualidade dos recursos hídricos superficiais e subterrâneos, além de causar poluição do ar, entre outros aspectos negativos. Uma alternativa para a recuperação de áreas degradadas é a rochagem, que consiste basicamente na incorporação de rochas/minerais ao solo. Uma fonte considerável de resíduos minerais para a rochagem é a indústria de beneficiamento de rochas ornamentais, pois em serrarias que produzem blocos de 20 mm de espessura, de 25 a 30% do bloco de granito são perdidos como partículas finas, considerando o fato de que o mercado brasileiro gera 240.000 t.ano-1, contabilizando apenas o mármore e o granito. O presente trabalho propõe a utilização de resíduos de corte de granito e resíduos orgânicos de Eichhornia crassipes, em consórcio na produção de um substrato rico em matéria orgânica e mineral, composto por micro e macro nutrientes essenciais à nutrição vegetal, favorecendo a recuperação de áreas degradadas por mineração. Desta forma, o presente trabalho objetivou verificar os efeitos da rochagem com resíduos de marmoraria (granito) e da aplicação de resíduos orgânicos de macrófita aquática aguapé (Eichhornia crassipes) sobre aspectos químicos e microbiológicos de um subsolo exposto e sobre o crescimento de capim pensacola (Paspalum notatum), uma gramínea nativa da América do Sul. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação e constou de 12 tratamentos, como segue: subsolo de área degradada com três doses de resíduos de marmoraria (8, 16 e 32 t. ha-1), combinadas com 8 t. ha-1 de resíduos orgânicos (aguapé), gerando 9 tratamentos, além de três adicionais, com solo de área degradada por mineração de argila vermelha preservado, utilizado como referência. Foram realizadas análises químicas e microbiológicas do solo, além de medidas de altura, massa seca e fresca da parte aérea e do sistema radicular das plantas. Os resultados indicam que os procedimentos com resíduos de granito e aguapé, contribuíram para melhorar as condições químicas e biológicas do solo e proporcionar bons resultados para as variáveis microbiológicas, enquanto as plantas apresentaram o maior crescimento nos tratamentos em que foram adicionados maiores concentrações de resíduos de marmoraria. A rochagem consorciada com macrófitas aquáticas proporcionou elevação da qualidade do solo exposto pela atividade, colaborando para recuperação de locais degradados e fechamento do ciclo de resíduos. / Mining activities cause significant impacts to the environment, since the development of this activity implies suppression of vegetation, soil exposure to erosive processes with changes in the quantity and quality of surface and underground water resources, besides causing air pollution, among other aspects Negative results. An alternative for the recovery of degraded areas is rock, which basically consists of incorporating rocks / minerals into the soil. A considerable source of mineral waste for rock is the ornamental stone industry, because in sawmills that produce 20 mm thick blocks, 25 to 30% of the granite block is lost as fine particles, considering the fact that The Brazilian market generates 240,000 t.-1, accounting for only marble and granite. The present work proposes the use of granite cutting residues and organic residues of Eichhornia crassipes, in a consortium in the production of a substrate rich in organic and mineral matter, composed of micro and macro nutrients essential to plant nutrition, favoring the recovery of degraded areas by mining. In this way, the present work aimed to verify the effects of rocks with marble and granite residues and the application of organic residues of aquatic macrophyte (Eichhornia crassipes) on chemical and microbiological aspects of an exposed basement and on the growth of pensacola grass (Paspalum notatum), a grass native to South America. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and consisted of 12 treatments, as follows: degraded area subsoil with three doses of marble waste (8, 16 and 32. ha- 1), combined with 8 t. ha-1 of organic waste (water hyacinth), generating 9 treatments, in addition to three additional ones, with degraded area soil by mining of preserved red clay, used as reference. Soil chemical and microbiological analyzes were carried out, as well as measurements of height, dry and fresh mass of shoot and root system of plants. The results indicate that the procedures with granite and water hyacinth residues contributed to improve the chemical and biological conditions of the soil and to provide good results for the microbiological variables, while the plants presented the highest growth in the treatments in which were added higher concentrations of residues of marble work. The rock consortium with aquatic macrophytes gave rise to the quality of the soil exposed by the activity, collaborating for the recovery of degraded sites and closure of the waste cycle.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Lignocellulosic biomass use for obtaining biofuels has been showing itself with much more evidence during these past years through cellulosic ethanol and biooils, biogases and biochars. Aquatic plants of lignocellulosic basis, Eichhornia crassipes species, commonly known by water hyacinth, represent a major environmental problem due to their invasive nature and their high proliferation rate. In this work we evaluated the possibility of use this biomass source from pyrolysis in a rotary kilns reactor in three different temperatures. The results evidence that the major yield of the liquid fraction (bio-oil + acid extract) was obtained at 500 ºC (42.11%). For 400 ºC and 600 ºC, the biochar and biogas had major production, 37.78% and 42.36%, respectively. Bio-oils characterization by GC/MS produced in microscale allowed an investigation upon the scale-up phenomenon under the bio-oils composition. The results show that, in qualitative terms, the chemical composition of bio-oils was not changed, however, at semiquantitative aspect, show they are produced in distinguish relative percentages. The mainly chemical classes identified in biooils were: acids, alcohols, phenols and sugar derivatives. Bio-oils showed in average, 68% of calorific power of the fuels derived from petroleum, glimpsing enforcement on the energetic area. In the produced biochars, with yields between 37% and 26%, the increase on pyrolysis temperature has provided an increase upon carbon concentration, and a decreasing upon the hydrogen and oxygen concentrations, reflecting in high aromaticity of the materials. These materials ware tested in some aspects about the soils management, nutritional function and water retention. In view of this, the water hyacinth pyrolysis has associated sustainability concepts and green chemistry, putting concepts of renewable energetic sources together and glimpsing an environmental problems inhibition, to offer an alternative to the 2nd generation of bio-fuels production. / O uso de biomassas lignocelulósicas para a obtenção de biocombustíveis apresenta-se com muito mais evidência nos últimos anos através do etanol celulósico e de bio-óleos, biogás e biocarvão. As plantas aquáticas de base lignocelulósica da espécie Eichhornia crassipes, popularmente conhecida por aguapé, representam um grande problema ambiental devido ao seu caráter invasor e sua alta taxa de proliferação. Neste trabalho avaliou-se a possibilidade de aproveitamento dessa fonte de biomassa a partir do processo de pirólise em um reator cilindro rotativo em três diferentes temperaturas. Os resultados demonstraram que o maior rendimento da fração líquida (bio-óleo + extrato ácido) foi obtido a 500 ºC (42,11%). Para as temperaturas de 400 e 600 ºC, o biocarvão e o biogás tiveram maior produção, 37,78% e 42,36%, respectivamente. A caracterização por CG/EM dos bio-óleos produzidos em microescala permitiram investigar o efeito de scale-up sob a composição dos bio-óleos. Os resultados mostraram que em termos qualitativos, a composição química dos bio-óleos não foi alterada, no entanto, no aspecto semiquantitativo mostraram que são produzidos em percentuais relativos distintos. As principais classes químicas identificadas nos bio-óleos foram: ácidos, álcoois, fenóis e derivados de açúcares. Os bio-óleos apresentaram em média 68% do poder calorífico do combustível derivado de petróleo, vislumbrando uma aplicação na área energética. Nos biocarvões produzidos, com rendimento variando de 37% a 26%, o aumento da temperatura de pirólise proporcionou um aumento na concentração de C, e uma diminuição nas concentrações de H e O, refletindo em maior aromaticidade dos materiais. Estes materiais foram testados sob alguns aspectos quanto ao manejo de solos, função nutricional e retenção de água. À vista disto, a pirólise de aguapé relacionou conceitos de sustentabilidade e química verde, unindo o conceito de fontes de energias renováveis com a inibição de problemas de cunho ambientais, ao oferecer uma biomassa alternativa para a produção de biocombustíveis de 2ª geração.

Water hyacinth is recognised as one of the most problematic invasive aquatic plant species in Africa. For this reason considerable funds are spent each year on itscontrol. As a consequence of the amount of money being spent on problems such as the invasion of water hyacinth, and because of the recognition of the ongoing and accelerated efforts that are required in the future, recent research has focused on accurately quantifying the costs and benefits of control of invasive species to aid policy decisions.A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis would be able to identify if the funds are justified and are being spent effectively. This thesis provides an example of a cost-benefit analysis of funds spent on the control of water hyacinth in an urban environment in South Africa. In order to develop a comprehensive assessment of the total economic value of the control of water hyacinth to an urban population, the Nahoon River in East London was selected as the study site to calculate the benefits of control. In addition to valuing the direct services provided by the resources that are traded in the market (in this case water provision), a contingent valuation study was undertaken in Abbottsford and Dorchester Heights (two suburbs in East London banking the Nahoon River). These were done in order to assess any non-use value a sample of 132 households of the population has for the control of water hyacinth, and any use values that are not traded in the market, for example recreational value. When the benefits of control of water hyacinth were compared to the costs of one of the least cost effective methods of control (herbicidal control), the benefits outweighed the costs by a ratio of more than 4:1, and for the most cost effective method of control the ratio was almost 6:1. These results provide a justification for the funds that are devoted to the control of water hyacinth, providing an argument for the continued expenditure for its control, and for further research into more cost effective methods of control, such as biological control.