What is Jatropha Biodiesel ?

Jatropha Biodiesel, a biofuel directly substitutable for petroleum-based diesel and can be derived using simple technology from locally grown oil crops in rural regions in developing countries.

Through continues batch transesterification chemical process, Jatropha crude oil from seed crops can be converted to a fuel commonly referred to as "Bio Diesel."

Advantages Of Jatropha Biodiesel

Blends of 20% biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel can be used in unmodified diesel engines.

It can extend the life of diesel engines because of it high lubricating properties. Furthermore, the power output and engine torque are relatively unaffected by biodiesel.
Jatropha Biodiesel is nontoxic, biodegradable. It reduces the emission of harmful pollutants (mainly particulates) from diesel engines (80% less CO2 emissions, less sulfur dioxide) but emissions of nitrogen oxides (precursor of ozone) are increased.
Jatropha Biodiesel has a high cetane number. Cetane number is a measure of a fuel's ignition quality. The high cetane numbers of biodiesel contribute to easy cold starting and low idle noise.
Jatropha Biodiesel replaces the exhaust odor of petroleum diesel with a more pleasant smell of popcorn or French fries.

The Jatropha curcas plant is a shrub or small tree. This tree is planted in many parts of Malaysia as border fencing to protect the field in the kampong from animals. It produces seeds which contain more than 40% of a non-edible oil.

Comparison With Diesel Oil

The Jatropha BioDiesel molecules are simple hydrocarbon chains, containing no sulfur, or aromatic substances associated with fossil fuels. They contain higher amount oxygen (up to 10%) that ensures more complete combustion of hydrocarbons

Bio Diesel almost completely eliminates lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions. When compared to petrol-diesel it reduces emission of particulate matter by 40%, unburned hydrocarbons by 68%, carbon monoxide by 44%, sulphates by 100%, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by 80%, and the carcinogenic nitrated PAHs by 90% on an average.

Per 100 g, the seed is reported to contain 6.6 g H2O, 18.2 g protein, 38.0 g fat, 33.5 g total carbohydrate, 15.5 g fiber, and 4.5 g ash (Duke and Atchley, 1983).

Leaves, which show antileukemic activity, contain a-amyrin, b-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, 7-keto-b-sitosterol, stigmast-5-ene-3-b, 7-a-diol, and stigmast-5-ene-3 b, 7 b-diol (Morton, 1981).

Leaves contain isovitexin and vitexin. From the drug (nut?) saccharose, raffinose, stachyose, glucose, fructose, galactose, protein, and an oil, largely of oleic- and linoleic-acids (List and Horhammer, 1969–1979), curcasin, arachidic-, linoleic-, myristic-, oleic-, palmitic-, and stearic-acids are also reported (Perry, 1980).

Jatropha Biodiesel has a high flash point, or ignition temperature, of about 300 F compared to petroleum diesel fuel which has a flash point of 125 F. This means it's safer to transport. Auto ignition, fuel consumption, power output, and engine torque are relatively unaffected by Jatropha Biodiesel.

Bio Diesel easily degradable (Three times more than sugar) biologically and in the case of an accident no harm is done to the soil or ground water.

Commercial Value

Biodiesel is a safer, cleaner and sustainable alternative energy source to petroleum diesel. Jatropha Biodiesel is a renewable energy and it has passed all of the tests and is registered as a fuel and fuel additive with the World Environmental Protection Agency. Also, biodiesel has been designated as an alternative fuel by the Ministry of Plantation in Malaysia.

Jatropha plantation and biodiesel production is a highly rewarding activity. The plant comes into bearing from first year onwards and stabilizes by 2nd or 3rd year. It gives yield up to 40 – 45 years. Normally, one-hectare of plantation yield is in the range of 6 tons of fruit and contain 40% of oil, depending upon the local climatic and hydro-geological conditions. We have collected the gene from difference countries for our R & D to produce this high yield species by our team of scientist.

Jatropha plantations also provide the following additional benefits:

Fixation of up to 8 t/hectare/yr CO2 that could be internationally traded.
Production of 8 t/hectare/yr of high protein seed cake (60% crude protein) that can be potentially used as organic fertilizer particularly.
Various other products from the plant (leaf, bark and seed extracts) have various other industrial and pharmaceutical uses (Heller, 1996)
Localized production and availability of quality fuel especially remote area.
Restoration of degraded land over a period of time.
Rural employment generation.