Biofuel from Jatropha

Jatropha is a leading source of biofuel, which is widely used in Brazil, India and Philippines. It has been tested on Continental Airlines and Air New Zealand, and it powers trains between New Delhi and Mumbai.

A few of energy companies are investing in cultivating jatropha trees, which are estimated to yield two gallons of oil per season.

Jatropha oil can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel that can be used in a standard diesel car. Press cake contains potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous and can be processed and used as fertilizer, as well as biomass feedstock to power electricity plants.

A hectare of jatropha produces 1,892 litres of fuel, which is more than ten times as much fuel per hectare as corn. One litre of biodiesel is made of the oil pressed from 4kg of seeds and refining jatropha oil into biodiesel costs less than $125 per tonne.

Researchers at Daimler Chrysler Research found that jatropha oil as fuel fulfills the EU norm for biodiesel quality and can be used for automotive use.

Jatropha oil burns with a clear smokeless flame and can be used as a kerosene subsitute for heating and lamps.

Biofuels such as jatropha oil can more widely substitute aviation fuels. Air New Zealand used a 50:50 blend of jatropha oil and jet A-1 fuel in the first succesful test flight with a boeing 747.

The biofuel is available during rainy seasons, when impassable roads can block conventional fuel delivery and it is also cheaper than conventional oil and diesel. Jatropha fuel contains more energy per gallon and has a higher freezing point than conventional jet fuel.

Production of jatropha oil was not to compete with food production, but after some years it turned out that the jatropha plant planted in soils not suitable for food growing has very low yields.

Some governments started pressing farmers into converting their farms to produce jatropha, putting it in direct competition with food production.

When the jatropha plant is planted in fertile soils, it creates a huge pressure on them and consumes their natural nutrients much faster than other plants. It can even render the once fertile soils completely useless. Jatropha has toxic properties and becomes a very invasive and agressive plant.