Jatropha Biomass: Energy for the Future

Deven Leigh 6/2/2007

Jatropha History

1 ► ► “Jatropha originated in South America, where from ancient times extracts from its leaves and seeds were used as medicines. Jatropha’s medical qualities derive from curcin, a chemical present in the plant's shoots and leaves, which is effective as an antiseptic but can be poisonous if ingested in large quantities.” “Learning of its medicinal qualities when they came to South America in the 16th century, Portuguese sailors took jatropha to Africa and India. It now grows from the forests of Brazil to the tropical islands of Fiji. In Africa it is widely used as a hedge to protect crops from foraging livestock, who avoid the leaves. Jatropha is still used as a traditional medicine in India, Africa, and the Philippines.”

Jatropha Benefits

2 ► ► ► ► ► Oil provides energy for light, transportation, and cooking.

Jatropha is a natural fence (leaves are poisonous to animals).

The Jatropha plant improves the soil and prevents erosion.

Jatropha biomass starts a year after first planting, and is at a maximum after 5 years.

Glycerin, a by product of Jatropha oil, can be used to produce soap.

Jatropha Benefits

1 ► ► ► ► Under optimum conditions jatropha seeds can yield up to 40% oil content. Trees have a lifespan of up to 30 years. Jatropha does not need irrigation and can grow in sand.

After Crushing the seeds for oil, the leftover seed mass is used as excellent fertilizer.

Jatropha Benefits

3 ► Small farms can easily introduce the oil into their local communities.

► Creation of a sustainable biofuel economy that would relieve poverty.

► The biomass market will provide job opportunities for the local community.

Jatropha Benefits

5 ► ► The carbon dioxide absorption is 8 Kg. per tree per Year and can be converted into Carbon Credit Certificates.

Side note: The New York Mercantile Exchange plans to offer contracts for trading carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas blamed for global warming, and other heat trapping emissions. ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18591849/ May 10, 2007)

Jatropha Disadvantages

► The Jatropha Curcas nut and oil are inedible, but its price is not distorted by competing food uses.

► Potential gender conflicts.

 Second income to make soap.

► If there is too little water, the plant will not produce the nut.

Jatropha Curcas to Oil

► Kick Start Oil Press

Jatropha Curcas to Biodiesel

1 ► “D1 20” Modular Biodiesel Refinery.

► The D1 20 can produce 8,000 tons of biodiesel per year from rapeseed, soy, palm or jatropha biomass.

Jatropha Curcas Specs

Jatropha Biodiesel properties compared with petro-diesel and EU standards Property

Density @ 30C

Units

g/ml

Jatropha biodiesel

0.88

Petroleum diesel

0.85

E.U. standards for biodiesel

> 0.8

Combustion point Kinetic viscosity Calorific potential Cetane number C cSt MJ/kg 192 4.84

41 52 55 08-Feb 45 47.5

> 55 5 Undefined > 48 Ester content Sulfur content Carbon residue Carbon residue % % % % > 99 0 0.024

0.024

0 < 0.5

< 0.35

< 0.35

> 99 < 0.55

< 0.1

< 0.1

► Source: The Biomass Project, 2000. Curcas Oil Methyl Ester. Nicaragua.

Jatropha Curcas Specs

Yield after Year 1 2 4 6

Cultivation and Yield

Plantation of 2,500 trees per hectare.

Kg seed per hectare 250 1000 5000 12000 equal to Kg. Oil 115 460 2300 5520

Biodiesel Advantages

6 ► Higher cetane numbers of biodiesel compared to the petroleum diesel indicates potential for higher engine performance.

► Superior lubricating properties of biodiesel increases functional engine efficiency. ► Higher flash point makes them safer to store.

► Biodiesel is oxygenated so its use dramatically reduces toxic air emissions compared to petroleum diesel.

Biodiesel Disadvantages

► Modifications are required for the vehicles. ► High CFPP (cold filter plugging point) values   Solidification and clogging of the fuel system at low temperatures (around 0°C).

Can introduce additives to curb CFPP.

► Rubber seals, gaskets, and hoses made before 1994 should be replaced when using B100.

Jatropha Biodiesel Economics

4 ► ► ► 375 kilograms per hectare for soybeans in the United States (280 gallons per acre). 1,000 kilograms per hectare of rapeseed in Europe (740 gallons per acre). 3,000 kilograms per hectare of Jatropha (2,226 gallons per acre) in India.

Jatropha Biodiesel Economics

4

Biodiesel and the Environment

► Biodiesel is considered "climate neutral" because all of the carbon dioxide released during consumption had been sequestered out of the atmosphere during crop growth.

► Combustion of one liter of diesel fuel results in the emission of about 2.6 kilograms of CO2.

Jatropha in Haiti

2 ► ► ► ► ► 70% of Haiti’s population still lives in the rural areas of the country.

78% of the Haitian population live on less than $2 a day.

Insecurity in Haiti is primarily due to the lack of job opportunities.

President Rene Preval and his government are working to ensure Haiti’s economic sustainability (Jatropha pilot programs).

Jatropha is indigenous to Haiti.

Jatropha Energy Policy for Haiti

► Government to create energy market for Jatropha.

► Local communities unite to grow small farms of Jatropha to produce biodiesel (most of the poor are farmers).

► Build peace with the Dominican Republic through biofuel market.

► Pilot Program: Government gives 5 to 10 Ha of land to farmers to grow Jatropha.

Jatropha in India

9 ► Most comprehensive National Program on promoting Jatropha.

► Jatropha projects started in 1991.

► The rail line between Mumbai and Delhi is planted with Jatropha and the train itself runs on 15-20% biodiesel. ► India is experimenting with more than 20 different types of trees to produce biodiesel.

Jatropha Over Other Biomass in India

7 ► low cost of seeds ► high oil content ► small gestation period ► growth on good and degraded lands ► growth in low and high rainfall areas ► seeds can be harvested in non-rainy season ► plant size is making collection of seeds more convenient.

Biodiesel in the USA

8 ► Half of U.S. biodiesel production capacity is designed for soybean oil.

► The other half is from recycled restaurant cooking oil, earning biodiesel a reputation for having a french-fry smell.

Make Your Own Jatropha Oil

► Procedure: 1.

Obtain the jatropha seeds.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Sun dry the seeds or roast them for 10 minutes.

Press the seeds to get the oil.

Purify the oil by using filters – very slow.

The purification process can be accelerated tremendously by boiling the oil with 20% water.

Use the oil in a diesel generator.

Resources

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8.

www.d1plc.com/agronomy.php

www.haitiinnovation.org/node/1386 www.csis.org/media/csis/congress/ts070319men delson_forman.pdf

www.jatrophaworld.org/15.html

www.svlele.com

www.treeoilsindia.com/products.htm

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/04/0 2/biofuel.debate/ DOE/GO-102001-1434 September 2001

Resource Papers

9.

10.

Case Study “Jatropha Curcas” Hartlieb Euler & David Gorriz, 60314 Frankfurt, Germany, April 04, Page 24 to 32

Reducing Rural Poverty through

Increased Access to Energy Service, United Nations Development Programme, UNDP Mali office, BP 120, Bamako, Mali, 2004