Jatropha Other Uses

• Jatropha aconitifolia, leaves of this tree were boiled and eaten by the Maya.
• Jatropha cuneata, stems are used for basket making in Mexico.
• Jatropha curcas, also called physic nut, is used to produce the non-edible Jatropha oil, for making candles and soap, and as an ingredient in the production of biodiesel. The trees produce 1600 liters of oil per hectare. The cakes remaining after the oil is pressed out can be used for cooking, for fertilizing, and sometimes even as animal fodder, while the seed husks can be used to fuel generators. Large plantings and nurseries of this tree have been undertaken in India by women's Self Help Groups, using a system of microcredit to ease poverty among the nation's semi-literate population of women. Extracts from this species have also been shown to have anti-tumor activity. The seeds can be used as a remedy for constipation, wounds can be dressed with the sap, and the leaves can be boiled to obtain a malaria and fever remedy.
• Jatropha gossypifolia, also called bellyache bush, its fruits and foliage are toxic to humans and animals. It is a major weed in Australia.
• Jatropha podagrica, was used to tan leather and produce a red dye in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. May also be used as a house plant.

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posted by Sudha @ 1:05 AM 0 Comments

Jatropha for soap making

Traditionally soap has been made from jatropha seeds. First, the shells are removed from the seeds. Then the cleaned white seeds are pounded in a mortar, then mixed with water and heated while stirring. After cooling, the soap is moulded balls for use or sale. The soap is popular, due to its cleansing and excellent dermatological properties. It is often used to treat minor skin problems, especially on children.

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Additional Benefits of Jatropha

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Jatropha Sub Products Uses

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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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Benefits of the Jatropha

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Jatropha Plantation Other Uses

Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits from the Jatropha Plantation

1. Job Creation
2. The harvesting of physic nuts or fruits from the tree is done every month, throughout the year and for over the forty years of the fruits bearing life of the tree.
3. It has been estimated that one able bodied young manor woman will harvest about 1 hectare jatropha farm per month.
4. After harvesting the dry nuts are sent to the purchasing centre for sales where purchasing clerks are to be engaged to do the job.
5. Then the carting of the nuts from the purchasing centers to the processing factory requires massive logistical activities that will involve a lot of labour.
6. The processing factory will also need to engage machine operators and other various skilled personnel.
7. After processing the nuts into finished products, there also need to be conveyed to distribution and marketing centers.
8. The value chain job creation is therefore very massive.
9. For one million hectare jatropha plantation project, it is estimated that direct employment generation will be over 1 million working people.

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posted by Sudha @ 6:55 AM 0 Comments