Jatropha - Bioenergy Crop Plants - page 316

14.5.2 Performance Characteristics ............................................................................... 336
14.5.2.1 BSFC ..................................................................................................... 339
14.5.2.2 BTE ...................................................................................................... 340
14.5.2.3 EGT ...................................................................................................... 340
14.5.3 Emission Characteristics ...................................................................................... 341
14.5.3.1 CO and CO 2 ......................................................................................... 341
14.5.3.2 NO x ....................................................................................................... 341
14.5.3.3 Smoke and Hydrocarbon ...................................................................... 342
14.6 Other Uses of Jatropha Byproducts ................................................................................... 343
14.6.1 Use of Jatropha Shell/Hull.................................................................................... 343
14.6.2 Use of Shell Briquettes ........................................................................................ 343
14.6.3 Use of Oil Cake for Biogas and Manure ..............................................................344
14.6.4 Production of Silver Nanoparticles .......................................................................344
14.6.5 Production of Activated Carbon ..........................................................................344
14.6.6 Wastewater Treatment ..........................................................................................344
14.7 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................344
References ...................................................................................................................................... 345
14.1 IntroductIon
Jatropha ( Jatropha curcas L.) is a drought-resistant shrub or tree with many attributes, multiple uses,
and considerable potential to meet future energy requirements. The plant can be grown to prevent and/
or control soil erosion, reclaim land, act as a live fence especially to prevent farm animals, and as a
commercial crop. The plant originated from tropical America, but it is now available in the arid, semi-
arid, tropical, and subtropical regions of the world (Hikwa 1995; Henning 1996; Makkar et al. 1997;
Haas and Mittelbach 2000; Openshaw 2000; Sirisomboon et al. 2007). This plant is able to thrive in a
number of climatic zones with wide range of rainfall ranging from 200 to over 1200 mm/year.
All parts of the jatropha plant can be used for various purposes. Its bark can be used for making
dyes, and its leaves can be used for rearing of silkworm and in the preparation of dyes and medi-
cines. Its leaves can also used as an anti-inflammatory substance. Its latex has a high medicinal
value and can be used as a pesticide and for control of molluscs. Its flowers attract bees and thus
it has a potential use in honey production. Its fruit hulls contain tannin and can be used as a green
manure. Fruit hulls are also combustible and can be used as feedstock for production of producer
gas and active carbon. Its seeds can be used for controlling insects and pests. These seeds are rich
in oil and the seed oil can be used for the preparation of soap, biodiesel, lubricant, insecticide, and
medicine. When seed oil is mixed with iron oxide, it can be used in varnish. The oil cake left after
expelling of oil from the seed is useful as fertilizer or it can be used as feedstock in the biogas- and
producer-gas-generating plants. Briquettes can be prepared from the seed shells for using as fuel.
Lastly, the roots contain yellow oil with strong antihelminthic properties (Heller 1996; Gübitz et al.
1999; Augustus et al. 2002; Sirisomboon 2007). A schematic view of multiple uses of jatropha is
shown in Figure 14.1.
Among its various uses, biodiesel from jatropha oil has been the center of attraction of many
countries to substitute diesel fuel because of diminishing petroleum sources, rising energy con-
sumption, and environmental issues. Hence, detailed information on its cultivation, management,
processing for biodiesel production, characterization, and engine performance with jatropha bio-
diesel are of utmost importance to scientists, researchers, plant-growers, and planners.
14.2 BotanIcal descrIPtIon oF the Plant
The term jatropha is derived from two Greek words— jatros , meaning “doctor,” and trophe , mean-
ing “nutrition.” Botanically this is known as Jatropha curcas L. and it belongs to the family