Jatropha Biomass: Energy for the Future

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Jatropha Biomass Energy for the Future

• Deven Leigh
• 6/2/2007

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Jatropha History1

• Jatropha originated in South America, where from
  ancient times extracts from its leaves and seeds
  were used as medicines. Jatrophas 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.

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Jatropha Benefits2

• 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.

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Jatropha Benefits1

• 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.

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Jatropha Benefits3

• 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.

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Jatropha Benefits5

• 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)

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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.

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Jatropha Curcas to Oil

• Kick Start Oil Press

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Jatropha Curcas to Biodiesel1

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

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Jatropha Curcas Specs

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

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Jatropha Curcas Specs
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Biodiesel Advantages6

• 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.

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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 0C).
• Can introduce additives to curb CFPP.
• Rubber seals, gaskets, and hoses made before 1994
  should be replaced when using B100.

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Jatropha Biodiesel Economics4

• 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.

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Jatropha Biodiesel Economics4
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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.

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Jatropha in Haiti2

• 70 of Haitis 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 Haitis economic sustainability
  (Jatropha pilot programs).
• Jatropha is indigenous to Haiti.

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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.

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Jatropha in India9

• 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.

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Jatropha Over Other Biomass in India7

• 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.

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Biodiesel in the USA8

• 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.

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Make Your Own Jatropha Oil

• Procedure
• Obtain the jatropha seeds.
• 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.

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Resources

• www.d1plc.com/agronomy.php
• www.haitiinnovation.org/node/1386
• www.csis.org/media/csis/congress/ts070319mendelson
  _forman.pdf
• www.jatrophaworld.org/15.html
• www.svlele.com
• www.treeoilsindia.com/products.htm
• http//edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/04/02/bio
  fuel.debate/
• DOE/GO-102001-1434 September 2001

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Resource Papers

• 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