Duckweed: From Bioremediation to Biofuel Resource

Duckweeds are reported as the "smallest, fastest growing and simplest of flowering plants" which float in still or slow-moving fresh water. It can thrive on wastewater effluents, and has been used for the treatment of municipal/agricultural wastewater and bioremediation of heavy metals/halogenated organics. Recently, it has been considered as a potential biofuel feedstock since they are good starch accumulators (about 40% to 70% of biomass) which can be processed into biofuel ethanol. Some of the reported features of duckweed as a potential biofuel feedstock are: (1) low lignin content, (2) ability to grow with low agricultural inputs, and (3) no competition with land for food-related agricultural commodities. Recently, researchers from the North Carolina University conducted lab scale tests to convert duckweed starch to ethanol, using the technologies used for corn ethanol. They are reportedly moving from the laboratory to a pilot-scale operation on a commercial farm. One of the interesting scenarios involving duckweed is that it can be grown first for wastewater treatment, and then harvested for biofuel processing.

Related information on duckweed http://www.mobot.org/jwcross/duckweed/duckweed.htm http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/duckweed.htm