Development of Biodegradable Cat Litter from Water Hyacinth

Abstract

This study focused on the technical feasibility and optimization of formulation performance characteristics to explore the potential of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for biodegradable cat litter development. Five water hyacinth-based formulations (T1-T5) were developed and compared with commercial tofu-based cat litter (T6). Formulation T5 exhibited the highest water absorption capacity (64.23 ± 2.31%) compared to T6, the commercial product (47.42 ± 1.00%). T5 contained water hyacinth (61.7 g) and carboxymethyl cellulose (35 g), creating an optimal synergy for moisture retention. Water hyacinth formulations demonstrated superior structural integrity under impact testing, with T2-T5 showing zero breakage when dropped from heights up to 3 m, compared to T6's 2.10% fragmentation rate. Commercial litter dried faster (0.21 g/m²/s) than water hyacinth formulations (0.11-0.17 g/m²/s), presenting an area for optimization. The research demonstrates the viability of water hyacinth as an eco-friendly cat litter material, effectively converting an invasive aquatic plant into a value-added product with absorption capacity and durability advantages over commercial alternatives, while supporting environmental sustainability through the beneficial repurposing of problematic biomass.