Biofuel from

Jatropha

Presented by

Omkar Shukla

Pankaj Tirkey

Neha Sathish

Jatropa as Biofuel 2

Background• Current ways of energy use is unsustainable.• Demand for renewable energy sources is

expected to rise in future.• Biofuel gaining worldwide popularity since

first manufactured in Europe.• U.S promoting industrial biofuel to solve

climate crisis.• Small scale biofuel projects sprouting in rural

communities.

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What is Biofuel?• Liquid fuel produced from plant products.• Category : Biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, pure

vegetable oil.• An alternative to petroleum based fuel.• Biodiesel feed stocks :

1. Palm

2. Coconut

3. Jatropha Curcas

4. Rapeseed/Mustard seed

5. Sunflower

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Contd…6. Corn

7. Soybean

8. Peanuts

9. Algae

10.Used restaurant oil

11.Animal fats

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How is biofuel made?

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Can Biofuels work sustainably?At the local level in isolated rural communities

with Intermingled with development projects. Effective government policies to protect farmers from

competition Decentralised.

Small scale biodiesel plants in developing countries led to

Rural electrification Improving irrigation and agriculture Job creation Women empowerment

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Contd… Power to local community Self sufficiency

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Jatropa as Biofuel 9

Jatropha Curcas!!!

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Why Jatropha Curcas?Jatropha curcas is a hardy oilseed bearing tree.

Centre of Origin in Central America.Commonly used in tropical growing areas as a

hedge and source of oil.Can tolerate some drought spells.

A plant of many revenue opportunities – oil, power generation, animal feed and fertiliser

Strong global demand for a sustainable energy product, will help countries/ industries meet climate treaty requirements.

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Jatropha curcas has high sustainability potential:Can be mixed or intercropped alongside existing

vegetables/grains, resulting in additional and balanced cash income for farmers.

Potential GHG savings of up to 66%.Jatropha curcas remains to be domesticated.

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Requirements of Jatropha CultivationLike any crop cultivated to produce a harvest,

Jatropha curcas also needs:Proper management:

Planting techniquesPruningDisease and Pest controlSelection of optimal cultivation zones

Proper Genetics selection:Commercial cultivar developmentAdapted cultivars for target growing areas

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Contd…Proper Crop inputs:

WatermanagementFertilization

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Growing conditions

Temp Range Min 15C Max 35 C

Optimum Temp 20-26 C

Rain 625 mm/yr (300 – 2380 mm/yr)

pH 5.0 – 6.5

Soil Rocky, Sandy or Clay

Well drained without flooding

Adapts to many soil types even salty soil

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Seeds• Use Jatropha Seeds (produced and harvested for

planting purposes) instead of Jatropha grain (found on or under any Jatropha tree).

• Best germination when harvested at right time and dried in the shade.

• Improved varieties are expected soon. • Important to look at seed moisture content when

storing seeds. Handheld moisture meter calibrated for Jatropha.

• Optimal moisture content for storage around 7%

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Seedbed and seedlings

• Adequate protection of plants in seedling nursery against pests.• Seedbeds should be

deep enough for taproot to develop.• If Poly bags are used:• Should be tall enough

(minimum 30 cm).• Right type of

compost

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Quality of planting practice is extremely important

J-rooted plant will survive but not grow

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Pruning and Pinching• Early pruning to induce branching.• Never prune in winter but at start of new season.

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Uses of Jatropha

Jatropha Grains

Crude Oil

Biodiesel

Hulls

Briquettes

SeedCake

Animal Feed

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Benefits

• The oil is being extensively used for making soap in some countries because it has a very high saponification value.

• The oil is used as an illuminant as it burns without emitting smoke.

• The latex of Jatropha curcas contains an alkaloid known as “Jatrophine” which is believed to have cancerous properties.

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Contd…

• From the bark of Jatropha Curcas a dark blue dye is produced which is used for colouring cloth, fishing nets etc.

• The byproduct of Jatropha seeds contain high nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium which is used for fish foods, domestic animals food nd in lands as fertilizer.

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Advantages of biodiesel fuel

• An excessive production of soya beans in the world makes it an economic way to utilise this surplus for manufacturing the biodiesel fuel.

• Less polluting than petroleum.• Lack of sulphur in 100% biodiesel extends the

life of catalytic converters.• Can also be blended with other energy

resources and oil.

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Contd…

• Used in existing oil heating system and diesel engines without making any alterations.

• Can be distributed through existing diesel fuels.

• Lubricating property of biodiesel may lengthen the life time of engines.

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Disadvantages

• One and half times more expensive than petroleum.

• Requires energy to produce biodiesel fuel from Soy crops, plus there is the energy of sowing, fertilising and harvesting.

• Can harm rubber hoses in some engines.• Cleans dirt from the bio engine and this can be

collected in the fuel filter thus clogging it.

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Contd…

• Distribution infrastructure needs improvement.

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Major Issues & Concerns a. Land

Available revenue wasteland is less than reported• Significant portions encroached, under forest

cover, diverted etc.• Many plots unfit due to poor soil depth, steep

slope etc• To meet estimated 5% blending requirement

by 2017, approx. 3 million ha will have to be brought under cultivation

Formation of compact clusters difficult due to small & scattered plots

b.

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b. Uncertainty in Yield Nation wide survey of existing plantations in six

climatic zones: seed yield varying from 350 to 1700 gm /plant

Non availability of certified planting materials (seeds/saplings)

c. Plant HealthJatropha, contrary to earlier reports of hardy

nature, is prone to disease and infestations. Remedial actions add to the plantation costs

d. Availability of labour Getting labour in adequate nos. in the plantation

Jatropa as Biofuel 28

season is difficult since it coincides with that of sustenance food crops.

e. Rainfall/irrigation: Availability of water in marginal lands is limited

and expensive

f. CostsActual cost of plantation is higher than envisagedMajor Contributors to increase in costs

IrrigationCosts of Agri-inputsLabour rate & No of Mandays

 

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g. Logistics:High logistics cost due to small & scattered plots

- non formation of clusters

h. Harvesting: The staggered ripening pattern of Jatropha fruits

also adds to the harvesting costsDiversion of produce after harvesting could occur

& initiator may not get its due

Major Issues & Concerns

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Jatropha in India

•Green areas indicate good Jatropha cultivation potential .•Red areas are fertile agricultural lands unlikely to be used for Jatropha cultivation.•Pink areas are deserts with poor growing conditions

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Live example of use of Jatropha in India On December 31, 2002, IR used B5 in a test run of the

prestigious Shatabdi Express. The test revealed no adverse effect on hauling capacity, no unusual deposits on the filters, and no deterioration of the condition of the fuel injection system. In May 2004, following the positive results of the initial laboratory and field trials, IR ran a test using B10 to operate the Jan-Shatabadi express for five days.

IR observed no adverse effects in terms of hauling

capacity, lube oil consumption, engine performance, or

filter deposits. Additionally, fuel injection pumps and

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In 2003, IR signed a 15-year memorandum of understanding with the IOC to provide about 500 hectares of land to the IOC for the plantation of Jatropha to generate oil for processing into biodiesel (Ministry of Railways 2003). The IOC will direct the plantation and cultivation of Jatropha, oil extraction, and transesterification aspects of the

project. One of the pilot project’s goals is to develop better baseline data on plant growth, seed

yield, oil yield, and biodiesel production and performance. In total, IR seeks to have Jatropha

planted on about 43,000 hectares of its land and will begin operating on blends of 1-5% with

expansion up to 20% depending on field experience.

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In addition to the IOC agreement, IR is also considering establishing a set of transesterification plants to produce biodiesel for use by its zonal railways. The Southern Railway, headquartered in

Chennai, owns a transesterification plant and operates two diesel locomotives on B5. The Northern Railway, headquartered in New Delhi, recently set up two transesterification plants and will begin field trials with 3,000 kiloliters of B10. The Southeastern and Northeast Frontier Railways are also operating trains on B10. The Railway Board is requesting proposals for the supply of 50,000 kiloliters of biodiesel .If biodiesel blending is fully integrated into IR operations in the future

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future, diesel fuel savings could range from 100 million liters per year for B5 to 400 million liters per year for B20.

Acronyms used :

B5 5% biodiesel blend with diesel

B10 10% biodiesel blend with diesel

B20 20% biodiesel blend with diesel

B100 100% biodiesel (neat biodiesel)

IOC Indian Oil Corporation Ltd

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IndianOil Biofuels Projects

Objective: Production of 30 MMTPA of Biodiesel

(Model : Captive Jatropha Plantation on 30,000 ha of revenue wasteland)

Joint Venture Company with Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Authority (CREDA) with 74% stake to IndianOil – IndianOil CREDA Biofuels Limited

Plantation completed on about 4200 hectares in Chattisgarh

Chhattisgarh

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Project activities- Chhattisgarh

Nursery Site, Raipur

Pit digging, Bilaspur

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Objective: Production of 35 MMTPA of Biodiesel

(Model : Jatropha Plantation on 50,000 ha of panchayat wasteland )

IndianOil Ruchi Biofuels LLP incorporated this year

Plantation commenced in Jhansi & Lalitpur (2010)

Major project funding from MNREGS through Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (JJY) of GoUP

Uttar Pradesh

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IndianOil Biofuels ProjectsObjective: To assess possibility of revenue land based commercial Biodiesel unit and develop benchmarks

for plantation costs and output (Model: Captive plantation on 2000 ha of revenue wasteland )

Plantation completed on about 300 hectares of land in Jhabua

1 year old Jatropha plants

in Jhabua

Madhya Pradesh- Pilot Project

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Steps to initiate pilot projects in rural communities

• Mobilise community groups , e.g. 10 to 15 households

• Awareness workshops including gender sensitivity.• Engage local men and women in interactive

dialogue and discussions • Install irrigation pump and oil expeller for each

community group.• Provide skill training and instructional manuals.• Form village energy committee.• Encourage household to plant Jatropha plants in

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Contd…

their private wastelands or in poorer sections of their field, e.g. on the borders of fields.

• Conduct technical and business skill training to women from preparing organic fertiliser from oil cake to producing vegetable cash crops to sell in market.

• Establish a small micro finance bank so villagers can take loans.

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References

• Wikipedia• Technical Report

NREL/TP-6A2-44428

Revised March 2009• Vincent Volckaert – Regional Manager Africa -

D1 Oils Plant Science ( Powerpoint Presentation)

• Indian Oil Corporation website and Powerpoint presentation.

Jatropa as Biofuel 42Thank you !!!