Jatropha Excellent for the Second Generation Biofuel

In view of the social and environmental concerns towards the first generation of biofuels using food crops like corn, soybean, sugarcane, grain and rapeseed, the search for second generation of feedstock is deemed necessary for long term success. This feedstock should not be a food crop, otherwise, the new demand of it in the biofuel industry will drive up food prices, aggravate deforestation, and produce more greenhouse gas emissions.

Second Generation Biomass that is used for biofuel generation include:

End or byproducts of plants and animals; examples are manure, garden waste, stems and branches of most plants, leaves, husks and other crop residues.
Non-food crops such as switch grass, jatropha, Chinese tallow tree, Florida aspen or popcorn tree and cereals that bear little grain,
Industry waste such as wood chips, skins and pulp from fruit pressing,
Municipal sewage matters that are organic in nature

Jatropha curcas is viewed by many as the perfect choice of biofuel feedstock, as it possesses advantages over its predecessor feedstock ( soy, maize, corn, palm, sugarcane); capable of fulfilling the EU norm for biodiesel quality, in mitigating climate change.

Jatropha curcas, also known as the Physic nut, is a perennial poisonous shrub. It is an inedible wild-species that grows easily in hedges. It originates from Central America, spreading to Africa by Portuguese traders, who introduced it as a hedge material and a source of oil for light. Jatropha begins yielding oil in the second year for the forty to fifty years. Optimal yields are obtained from the sixth year.

The following qualities of jatropha make it a favorable secondary generation feedstock:

Jatropha has a high growth rate with a high annual oil yield of over 2,000 barrels per square mile compared to 200 barrels from corn.

The plant yields more than four times as much fuel per hectare as soybean, and more than ten times that of maize or corn.

The jatropha seeds contain up to 40% of oil that can be crushed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel usable in a standard diesel engine with minimal modifications.

Jatropha can grow well in marginal soil and does not require fertilizer

It does not compete with food crops.

Jatropha can also be planted in rotation with other cash crops such as coffee, sugar, fruits and vegetables.

It is drought and pest resistant. In fact, jatropha can survive three years of drought.

Jatropha cultivation helps in preventing soil erosion, and enriching soil quality. In addition, its press cake (seedcake) leftover can be composted and used as a high grade nitrogen rich organic fertilizer.

Airlines have been experimenting with alternative fuels as a way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lower fuel bills, which hammered carriers in the first part of 2008 when oil prices spiked.

On December 30, 2008, Air New Zealand successfully test flied Boeing 747, running one of its four engines on a 50:50 blend of jatropha oil and jet fuel.

In Jan 2009, Continental Airlines became the first US commercial carrier to conduct a demonstration flight powered in part by alternative fuels derived from algae and jatropha plants, further demonstrating the viability of jatropha oil as a jet fuel.

Continental chairman and chief executive Larry Kellner said the goal was to analyze technical aspects of using biofuels, including effects on the plane's mechanical systems. The algae/jatropha fuel was praised for having a low flash point and sufficiently low freezing point, issues that have been problematic for other bio-fuels.

Picture shows the Chinese tallow tree, or Florida aspen or Gray Popcorn Tree. Introduced to the United States, the tree is native to eastern Asia, and is common in China, Taiwan, and Japan.

It is useful as a second generation biomass in the production of biodiesel because it is the third most productive vegetable oil crop in the world, after algae and oil palm. This species is considered to be a noxious invader in the U.S.

References and related news:

Jatropha Oil: Wiikipedia.org/wiki/Jatropha_oil
Jatropha for Biodiesel Figures: REUK.co.uk
The Jatropha Spin: Simplygreen.co.za

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