Value addition in biodiesel production of Jatropha
Gas production from Jatropha Husk
Husk utilization - Thermal gasification
The jatropha husk was subjected to thermal gasification to produce combustible gas for use in process heating, steam production and other applications. A gasifier developed at TNAU for jatropha / pungam pod husk gasification consumes 6 to 8 Kg of husk per hour and produces combustible gas of 12-14 m3/h. The thermal efficiency was 55-60%.
The energy content of the jatropha seed husk was found to be 17.2 MJ/ Kg.
Fertilizer and Biogas production from Jatropha Cake
(i) Jatropha curcas oil cake has been recognized as a valuable fertilizer. It contains high amount of nitrogen after neem oil cake (Table.11)
Comparison of N, P and K contents in Jatropha curcas oil- cake with other organic fertilizers
Fertilizer
|
Nitrogen
(%) |
Phosphorus
(%) |
Potassium
(%) |
Jatropha curcas oil-cake |
4.44 |
2.09 |
1.68 |
Cow-manure |
0.97 |
0.69 |
1.66 |
Chicken manure |
3.04 |
6.27 |
2.08 |
Duck manure |
2.37 |
2.10 |
1.09 |
Compost of raw straw |
0.81 |
0.18 |
0.68 |
Compost of water hyacinth |
1.48 |
0.46 |
0.48 |
Compost of municipal wastes |
1.25 |
0.25 |
0.65 |
Karanj-oil cake |
4.00 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
Neem-oil cake |
5.00 |
1.00 |
1.50 |
(ii) Bio gas production from Jatropha oilcake-Jatropha oilcake and cow dung were taken as feedstock for biogas production through batch digestion mode. Lab scale biogas reactor of 10 litre capacity was designed and fabricated for conducting batch experiments. The average biogas production was ranged from 37 to 43.35 l.. The biogas production from the 100 percent Jatropha cake was 42.13 l for 0.215 kg of Jatropha cake. The biogas production from 1 kg of Jatropha cake was found as 195 l kg-1.
Glycerol
The principal by–product of biodiesel production is the crude glycerol, which is about 10 % weight of vegetable oil. High purity glycerol is a very important industrial feedstock. Crude glycerol derived from biodiesel production has very low value impurities. Refining of the crude glycerol will depend on the economy of production scale and/or the availability of a glycerol purification facility. It is generally treated and refined through filtration, chemical additions, and fractional vacuum distillation to yield various commercial grades. An effective usage or conversion of crude glycerol to specific products will cut down the biodiesel production costs. Also used for making soap, emollient etc.
Uses of glycerol:
It has application in food, drug, cosmetic and tobacco industries. It is used as a lubricants, anti-freezing agent, solvent and as a Plasticizer. For medicinal purposes, glycerin only should be used that has been purified by distillation; an impure glycerin when applied to wounds or ulcers is very apt to cause a burning sensation, and a popular eruption on the skin; when pure it is unirritating. |
