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Jatropha are
drought-resistant perennial plants, growing well
in marginal/poor soil. It is easy to establish,
grows relatively quickly and lives, producing
seeds for 50 years.
Jatropha the wonder plant produces seeds with an
oil content of 37%. The oil can be combusted as fuel without being
refined. It burns with clear smoke-free flame, tested successfully
as fuel for simple diesel engine. The by-products are press cake a
good organic fertilizer, oil contains also insecticide.
It is found to be growing in many parts of the
country, rugged in nature and can survive with minimum inputs and
easy to propagate.
Medically it is used for diseases like cancer,
piles, snakebite, paralysis, dropsy etc.
Jatropha grows wild in many areas of India and
even thrives on infertile soil. A good crop can be obtained with
little effort. Depending on soil quality and rainfall, oil can be
extracted from the Jatropha nuts after two to five years. The annual
nut yield ranges from 0.5 to 12 tons. The kernels consist of oil to
about 60 percent; this can be transformed into biodiesel fuel
through etherification |
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H1N1 Swine Flu
Producers
As one of the most important oilseed grower, producer, importer and
exporter, India is one of the four major players in the vegetable oil
scenario of the world. Vegetable oil scenario is complex and is highly
influenced by market sources, conflicting interests, policies of the
government, income of the consumers, demands of industry, economies of
production, correction and processing vagaries of weather, technology and
various biotic and abiotic problems.
For mitigating climate change by reducing emission of green house gases,
meeting rural energy needs, protecting the environment and generating
gainful employment, Jatropha curcas / Castor has multiple role to play. All
attempts to increase its production and productivity, oil extraction by
application of appropriate technology, product development and
diversification and policies that will protect and promote national interest
would be welcome.
The Advantages of Bio Diesel
Bio Diesel is the most valuable form of renewable energy that can be used
directly in any existing, unmodified diesel engine.
Bio Diesel fuel and can be produced from oilseed plants such as rape seeds,
sunflower, canola and or JATROPHA CURCAS.
Bio Diesel is environmental friendly and ideal for heavily polluted cities.
Bio Diesel is as biodegradable as salt
Bio Diesel produces 80% less carbon dioxide and 100% less sulfur dioxide
emissions. It provides a 90% reduction in cancer risks.
Bio Diesel can be used alone or mixed in any ratio with mineral oil diesel
fuel. The preferred ratio if mixture ranges between 5 and 20% (B5 - B20)
Bio Diesel extends the live of diesel engines
Bio Diesel is cheaper then mineral oil diesel
Bio Diesel is conserving natural resources
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For the future
As a substitute for fast
depleting fossil fuel. Bio diesel had come to stay. In future, it
should also serve to reduce and maintain the price of automobile
fuel. The under exploited and un exploited vegetable oils are good
sources of Biofuels. Our country is endowed with many such plants.
Research is being carried out now to convert vegetable oils into
Biodiesel through biotechnological processes using Biodiesel. With a
concentrated and coordinated effort. Wide use of bio diesel in our
country is going to be a reality in the days to come.
A national mission on Bio-Diesel
has already been proposed by the committee comprising six micro
missions covering all aspects of plantation, procurement of seed,
extraction of oil, trans-esterification, blending & trade, and
research and development. Diesel forms nearly 40% of the energy
consumed in the form of hydrocarbon fuels, and its demand is
estimated at 40 million tons.
Therefore blending becomes the
important National Issue which apart from giving the dividends , it
saves the country's exchequer. India has vast stretches of degraded
land, mostly in areas with adverse agro- climatic conditions, where
species of Jatropha , Mahua etc can be grown easily.
Even 30 million hectares planted for bio- diesel
can completely replace the current use of Biofuels. The production
of Bio fuels will also boost the rural economy which will bring more
enthusiasm in more than one billion lives in the area.
The Next Generation
Sustainable Fuel
What is Jatropha a Bio
Diesel?
The concept dates back to 1885
when Dr. Rudolf Diesel built the first diesel engine with the full
intention of running it on vegetative source.
He first displayed his engine
at the Paris show of 1900 and astounded everyone when he ran the
patented engine on any hydrocarbon fuel available - which included
gasoline and peanut oil. In 1912 he stated, "the use of vegetable
oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today. But such oils
may in the course of time become as important as petroleum and the
coal tar products of present time."
Scientists discovered that the
viscosity
(thickness) of vegetable oils could be reduced in a simple chemical
process In 1970 and that it could work well as diesel fuel in modern
engine.
The process
The process of converting vegetable oil into Biodiesel fuel is
called Transesterification and is luckily less complex then it
sounds.
Chemically,
Transesterification means taking a triglyceride molecule, or a
complex fatty acid, neutralizing the free fatty acids, removing
the glycerin, and creating an alcohol ester. This is
accomplished by mixing methanol with sodium hydroxide to make
sodium methoxide. This liquid is then mixed into the vegetable
oil. After the mixture has settled, Glycerin is left on the
bottom and methyl esters, or Biodiesel is left on top and is
washed and filtered.
The final product Bio Diesel
fuel, when used directly in a Diesel Engine will burn up to 75%
cleaner then mineral oil Diesel fuel. |
