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The oil from Jatropha curcas is mainly converted into biodiesel for use in diesel engines. The cake resulting from oil extraction, a protein-rich product, can be used for fish or animal feed (if detoxified).
Jatropha curcas contains 30-35% oil. The oil contains 21% saturated fatty acids and 79% unsaturated fatty acids. There are some chemical elements in the seed, which are poisonous and render the oil unfit for human consumption. The oil is renewable and safe source of energy. It is viable alternative to diesel, kerosene, LPG, furnance oil, coal and fuel wood. Oil is also used in resins, polish, paints, soap and candle industries. The seeds contain protein 18%, fat 38%, carbohydrate 17%, fibre 15.5%. The chemical composition of Jatropha curcas oil is given below- It is significant to point out that, the non-edible vegetable oil of Jatropha curcas has the requisite potential of providing a promising and commercially viable alternative to diesel oil since it has desirable physicochemical and performance characteristics comparable to diesel. Cars could be run with Jatropha curcas without requiring much change in design.
Jatropha oil resulted in a slightly reduced thermal efficiency as compared to diesel. This renewable fuel’s high cetane values, very low sulfur content and high oxygen content give it excellent combustion properties. It was reported that the ignition delay & combustion duration are increased with both Jatropha oil & methyl ester of Jatropha oil as compared to diesel. Lower heat release rates are found with Jatropha oil & methyl ester of Jatropha oil as compared to diesel during the pre-mixed combustion phase.
The combustion of bio-diesel releases only the amount of COi that the plant removed from the atmosphere when it was growing. Only the amount of energy used for the cultivation, harvesting and transport of the plants plus the energy needed to produce bio-diesel affects the CO2 balance. And in principle, it is possible to significantly reduce that energy figure.