Jatropha curcas

BP has investments in an ethanol plant with DuPont and Associated British Foods. It is also investing in cellulosic ethanol research and developing jatropha as a biodiesel feedstock. BP and DuPont are planning a biobutanol demonstration plant and BP would like to eventually convert their ethanol plant to biobutanol production. BP has a 400 million investment with Associated British Foods and DuPont to build a bioethanol plant in the U.K. that may be converted to biobutanol. It has spent 500 million over 10 years at the Energy Biosciences Institute in California to research future biofuels and 9.4 million over 10 years to fund the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in India to study the production of biodiesel from Jatropha curcas. It also has a 160 million joint venture with D1 Oils to develop the planting of Jatropha curcas. 

Several types of tree producing non-edible oils, with an estimated annual production potential of more than 20 Mt, are being considering in India for biodiesel production [13-18] karanja (Pongamia pinnata), nahar (Mesua firrua), jatropha (Jatropha curcas), pinnai (Calophyllum L.), neem (Azadirachta indica), mahua (Madhuca Mica) and rubber (Hevea hrasiliensis). All of them have an FFA content of 3-20%. 

Das B, Reddy MR, Ravindranath N, Kishore KH, Murthy USN (2005) A Substituted Imidazole Derivative from Jatropha curcas. Ind J Chem 44B 1119... 

Another oil used for epoxidation with MT0/H202 is the oil from Jatropha curcas L. also known as Barbados or Physic nut. As with palm oil, it mostly consists of oleic acid (50%) and linoleic acid (29%) and various saturated fatty acids (20%). With 0.5 mol% of MTO and 12 mol% of pyridine in biphasic conditions, it was found that Jatropha oil can be completely epoxidized within 1.5 h [78]. 

Jones, N., and Miller, J. H. (1991). Jatropha curcas, A Multipurpose Species for Problematic Sites, Land Resources Series No. 1. The World Bank, Washington, D.C. 

Jatropha curcas L. Bicirit Oedema (B) Constipation (S) Wounds, cuts (La) Bark paste seeds powder local application ... 

Vegetable oils fijom crops, with a total lipid content of at least 20% by weight, such as soy bean, rape seed and sunflower, have been studied and cultivated in plantations as sources of feed stock for biodiesel production in the USA and in European countries such as France, Austria and Italy. For Kenya and Afiica at large, where there is a dire need for food, the use of such edible oil crops for fuel would be ridiculous. Jatropha curcas (family Euphorbiaceae), which constitutes 53-57% non-edible oils, has therefore been evaluated as a source of oil for biodiesel production. 

The preparation of Jatropha curcas methyl esters (JCME) and a study of their chemical and fuel properties are presented in this paper. The results are compared with those of petroleum diesels (Diesel No.2 and kerosene). 

Jatropha Curcas L. as a Source for the Production of Biodiesel in Kenya... 

The experimental yields of the methyl esters from Jatropha curcas oils, prepared as shown in Figure 1, were determined to be in the range 90.7-96.2% by volume of oil. The losses in comparison to the 100% theoretical 5deld were attributed to the formation of salts of free fatty acids present in the oil, which is evidenced by the high acid value of the oil (5.2) as compared 0.2 of the resulting esters (Table 2). 

JCO = Jatropha curcas oil JCME = Jatropha curcas methyl ester... 

Table 3 Composition of methyl esters derivedfrom Jatropha curcas...

J. Heller, 1996. Physic Nut Jatropha curcas L. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized vegetable crops Institute of plant genetics and crop plant research. Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA). Biodiesel fuels and their use in diesel engines. Chicago, IL, August 1995. 

Jatropha curcas L. Enphorbiaceae Afr, Ind, trop Ame roots fresh leaves roots convulsions fits +PTZ -STN infusion 70% ethanolic ext. 32... 

Jatropha curcas, J. gossypiifolia, J. Weberbaueri SV, MCMV Virucidal [11]... 

Keywords Crude pahn kernel oil (CPKO) Jatropha curcas Jatropha oil Palm oil Plant oils Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)... 

Jatropha curcas L. is a small perennial shrub originally from Caribbean, most probably is from Mexico. It is believed to have been transported by Portuguese sailor to Africa and Asia and cultivated for the oil in hedges (Heller 1996). After decades of distribution, J. curcas L. can be found in the tropical and subtropical regions around the world. This easy-growing and multipurpose plant exists in regions with various vernacular names (Table 5.1). 

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