Studies on utilization of treated stack gas. II. Growth of waterhyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) in carbon dioxide‐rich atmospheres

Abstract

Waterhyacinths survive atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations ranging from ambient to 15% (v/v). The optimum growth during a one‐week period with continuous laboratory lighting (200 μEs/m²/‐sec) appeared to be about 10%. Under these conditions, the equation defining inorganic carbon fixed as a function of the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide indicated a maximum of about 75% of available carbon was fixed over the range 0–10% CO₂. Under a typical light cycle, the percent fixed was reduced to about 60%. The implications of the results are considered.

Key words:

• Stack gas
• carbon dioxide
• Eichhornia crassipes
• waterhyacinths

Notes

Present Address: M/S 453, Texas Instruments, Inc., P.O. Box 226015, Dallas, TX 75266.