Jatropha curcas as an Energy Source

Jatropha oil is an important product from the plant for meeting the cooking and lighting needs of the rural population, boiler fuel for industrial purposes or as a viable substitute for diesel. Substitution of firewood by plant oil for household cooking in rural areas will not only alleviate the problems of deforestation but also improve the health of rural women who are subjected to the indoor smoke pollution from cooking by inefficient fuel and stoves in poorly ventilated space. Jatropha oil performs very satisfactorily when burnt using a conventional (paraffin) wick after some simple design changes in the physical configuration of the lamp.

About one-third of the energy in the fruit of Jatropha can be extracted as an oil that has a similar energy value to diesel fuel. Jatropha oil can be used directly in diesel engines added to diesel fuel as an extender or trans-esterised to a bio-diesel fuel. In theory, a diesel substitute can be produced from locally grown Jatropha plants, thus providing these areas with the possibility of becoming self sufficient in fuel for motive power. There are technical problems to using straight Jatropha oil in diesel engines that have yet to be completely overcome. Moreover, the cost of producing Jatropha oil as a diesel substitute is currently higher than the cost of diesel itself that is either subsidized or not priced at "full cost" because of misconceived and distorted national energy policies. Nevertheless the environmental benefits of substituting plant oils for diesel provides for make highly desirable goals.

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Labels: Jatropha-Uses

posted by Sudha @ 5:55 AM