Junhamakasit T.Taeprayoon P.Mahidol University2025-10-162025-10-162025-07-01Asean Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports Vol.28 No.4 (2025)https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/112617This 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.Chemical EngineeringAgricultural and Biological SciencesArticleSCOPUS10.55164/ajstr.v28i4.2581852-s2.0-10501807434327738752