Jatropha - super biofuel?

Miamian · Oct 8, 2008

Israeli seeds could solve the biofuel-food crop dilemma - ISRAEL21c

The jatropha, says Levi, is rich in oil and doesn't compete with food crops making it an ideal specimen for biofuel. Over in Ghana, he is working with about 30 locals to grow and cultivate a 250-acre site that may give rise to some of the world's most important biofuel reserves ever.
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According to Galten's website only one ton of biofuel can be extracted from 2.5 acres of edible crops such as corn or soybeans, whereas three tons of biofuel can be produced on the same amount of acreage growing jatropha plants. Levi expects Galten will be able to start producing biofuel in about two or three years: "How you do it exactly, well that's our secret," he says.
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Celtkin · Oct 8, 2008

IMO, the future is in biofuels and especially in biofuels derived from cellulose. Using feed crops to make ethanol causes unnecessary rises in the price for this crops and drives up the cost of food and, as a result, a rise in world hunger.

opfinistic · Oct 8, 2008

Wikipedia said:

Jatropha is a genus of approximately 175 succulent plants, shrubs and trees (some are deciduous, like Jatropha curcas L.), from the family Euphorbiaceae. The name is derived from (Greek iatros = physician and trophe = nutrition), hence the common name physic nut. Jatropha is native to Central America[1] and has become naturalized in many tropical and subtropical areas, including India, Africa, and North America. Originating in the Caribbean, Jatropha was spread as a valuable hedge plant to Africa and Asia by Portuguese traders. The mature small trees bear separate male and female flowers, and do not grow very tall. As with many members of the family Euphorbiaceae, Jatropha contains compounds that are highly toxic.

The hardy Jatropha is resistant to drought and pests, and produces seeds containing up to 40% oil. When the seeds are crushed and processed, the resulting oil can be used in a standard diesel engine, while the residue can also be processed into biomass to power electricity plants.[2]

Goldman Sachs recently cited Jatropha curcas as one of the best candidates for future biodiesel production.[3] However, despite its abundance and use as an oil and reclamation plant, none of the Jatropha species have been properly domesticated and, as a result, its productivity is variable, and the long-term impact of its large-scale use on soil quality and the environment is unknown.[1]
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Hadn't heard of this until now. Fascinating. The one caveat is the possible long term impact on the soil, IMO, but we never look that far ahead anyway as a race.

Celtkin · Oct 9, 2008

I am not sure why the Wiki contributor added the line about the plant affecting soil quality. The plant grows in the crappiest of soils as it is.

I found this interesting.

The Jatropha trees take 4 to 5 years to mature fully. At that time, if Jatropha Plantation is rain fed, these plants can yield 0.35 to 0.375 gallon of oil per tree or 375 gallons per hectare or 150 gallons per acre. If it is irrigated (3 to 5 lites per plant every 15 days) it can be double this amount. According to the U.N., harvesting Jatropha requires 1 worker for every 1 acre of Land.

Currently most the seeds produced in India, are sorted and used for either Plantation Purposes or for Crushing for oil. About 80% of the seeds are used for Plantations all over the world. This trend is likely to continue for next five years. About 20% seeds are crushed and oil is used for manufacture of Soap (Palm oil is now too expensive for soap) and as Lamp Oil in Hindu Houses and Temples. This is likely to continue for another 5 years. Currently no oil is available for BioDiesel and may be available after 5 years.

Plantation of Jatropha alone is not economically attractive, as there is little income from it for first 2 to 3 years. As Jatropha plant is initially small in height, Castor is intercropped with it in Fallow Land, to get income and oil for first 2 to 3 years. This oil can be used for manufacture of BioDiesel. (see Castor). If land is good, soy can be grown, as soy oil is edible oil and soy meal is cattle feed. It can fetch more income than castor.
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The Cultivation of Jatropha Curcas : castor , biodiesel , glycerin , plantation , echador , glicerina , plantacin , roulette , glycrine , Furolle , Plantage , Cultivation , Cultivacin , Culture , Bearbeitung

finswin56 · Oct 9, 2008

Am I being silly thinking this is pretty exciting?

opfinistic · Oct 9, 2008

finswin56 said:

Am I being silly thinking this is pretty exciting?
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Not silly at all. Any alternative, especially one that can be manufactured domestically is a huge boon for the US.

Miamian · Oct 9, 2008

What gets me is that combining technologies it's possible to do this much more quickly. Some of you may remember this thread that I posted about 5 months ago.

http://forums.thephins.com/science-technology/8435-new-engine-can-run-bio-fuel-fit-into-existing-designs.html

Frumundah Finnatic · Oct 15, 2008

finswin56 said:

Am I being silly thinking this is pretty exciting?
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It is an amazing discovery

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