Prospects for jatropha methyl ester (biodiesel) in India

Abstract

Jatropha Methyl Ester (JME) is a potential biodiesel in India. Although high quality EN 14214 grade biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas has been demonstrated by us for the first time, leading to a surge of interest worldwide, large‐scale cultivation of the plant with high seed productivity is critical to overall success. The core processes are carried out under ambient conditions and effluent discharge is eliminated through integration with by‐product recovery. A target of 2 tonnes (tonne = metric ton = 1000 kg) per hectare of jatropha seeds is realistic with proper agronomic practices in cultivable wastelands. Even so, only a small fraction of total diesel requirement can be met through biodiesel. Besides biodiesel, jatropha cultivation can make a considerable impact in promoting organic farming through use of the oil cake. The shell, having a calorific value equivalent to coal, can be made into briquettes and used in solid fuel fired boilers and other applications as a substitute for fossil fuel. Other by‐products too find useful applications. The overall environmental impact of large‐scale jatropha cultivation is so far not studied. Although the desertification process would be arrested, greenhouse emissions would be reduced and the atmosphere enriched in oxygen, there is a potential threat to biodiversity. This may be mitigated if such activities are confined to wasteland. Long term impact of toxicity of the plant and toxicity, if any, of products/byproducts also need to be carefully assessed.