Production Of Biodiesel From Jatropha Plant

By Nofal Umair

What is Jatropha?

• Shrub: 2 meters in height

• Draught resistant, perennial

• Starts producing after 2-3 years of plantation (produces for 30-35 years)

• Seeds contain 50% oil (approx. 30% is extractable)

• Oil: non-edible

• Seed production: 0.8 to 5.2 tons per acre per annum (depending on soil and irrigation)

Oil Pal

m

Coconut

Jatro

pha

Rapes

eed

Peanut

Sunflower

Safflo

wer

Must

ard

Soybea

nCorn

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Gallons per acre

Oil producing crops

Processing of Biodiesel using Jatropha seeds

Possible utilization of Jatropha Plant

How Jatropha-biodiesel and Petro-diesel compare:

• Low emissions: Reduction in unburned hydrocarbons, CO, SO2 and particulate matter. Slight increase in NOX

• Energy content: 94% (~70% for ethanol)

• Energy Balance: >3.2 (US DOE estimate with soy-biodiesel)

Jatropha Benefits • Oil provides energy for light,

transportation, and cooking.• Jatropha is a natural fence

(leaves are poisonous to animals).

• The Jatropha plant improves the soil and prevents erosion.

• Jatropha biomass starts a year after first planting, and is at a maximum after 5 years.

• Glycerin, a by product of Jatropha oil, can be used to produce soap.

Jatropha Benefits

• Under optimum conditions jatropha seeds can yield up to 40% oil content.

• Trees have a lifespan of up to 30 years.

• Jatropha does not need irrigation and can grow in sand.

• After Crushing the seeds for oil, the leftover seed mass is used as excellent fertilizer.

Jatropha Benefits

• Small farms can easily introduce the oil into their local communities.

• Creation of a sustainable bio-fuel economy that would relieve poverty.

• The biomass market will provide job opportunities for the local community.

• The carbon dioxide absorption is 8 Kg. per tree per Year and can be converted into Carbon Credit Certificates.

Jatropha Disadvantages

• The Jatropha Curcas nut and oil are inedible, but its price is not distorted by competing food uses.

• Potential gender conflicts.– Second income to make soap.

• If there is too little water, the plant will not produce the nut.

Jatropha Curcas SpecsJatropha Biodiesel properties compared with petro-diesel and EU standards

Property UnitsJatrophabiodiesel

Petroleumdiesel

E.U. standardsfor biodiesel

Density @ 30C g/ml 0.88 0.85 > 0.8

Combustion point C 192 55 > 55

Kinetic viscosity cSt 4.84 08-Feb 5

Calorific potential MJ/kg 41 45 Undefined

Cetane number - 52 47.5 > 48

Ester content % > 99 0 > 99

Sulfur content % 0 < 0.5 < 0.55

Carbon residue % 0.024 < 0.35 < 0.1

Carbon residue % 0.024 < 0.35 < 0.1

• Source: The Biomass Project, 2000. Curcas Oil Methyl Ester. Nicaragua.

Jatropha Curcas SpecsCultivation and Yield

Plantation of 2,500 trees per hectare.

Yield after Year

Kg seed equal to

per hectare Kg. Oil

1 250 115

2 1000 460

4 5000 2300

6 12000 5520

Biodiesel Advantages

• Higher cetane numbers of biodiesel compared to the petroleum diesel indicates potential for higher engine performance.

• Superior lubricating properties of biodiesel increases functional engine efficiency.

• Higher flash point makes them safer to store.• Biodiesel is oxygenated so its use dramatically

reduces toxic air emissions compared to petroleum diesel.

Biodiesel Disadvantages

• Modifications are required for the vehicles. • High CFPP (cold filter plugging point) values

– Solidification and clogging of the fuel system at low temperatures (around 0°C).

– Can introduce additives to curb CFPP.• Rubber seals, gaskets, and hoses made before

1994 should be replaced when using B100.

Jatropha Biodiesel Economics• 375 kilograms per hectare for soybeans in the United States (280

gallons per acre). • 1,000 kilograms per hectare of rapeseed in Europe (740 gallons

per acre). • 3,000 kilograms per hectare of Jatropha (2,226 gallons per acre)

in India.

Jatropha Biodiesel Economics4

Biodiesel and the Environment

• Biodiesel is considered "climate neutral" because all of the carbon dioxide released during consumption had been sequestered out of the atmosphere during crop growth.

• Combustion of one liter of diesel fuel results in the emission of about 2.6 kilograms of CO2.

Raw Materials Rapeseed, the major source (>80%)

Sunflower oil (10%, Italy and Southern France)

Soybean oil (USA)

Palm oil (Malaysia)

Linseed, olive oils (Spain)

Cottonseed oil (Greece)

Beef tallow (Ireland), lard, used frying oil (Austria), Jatropha (Nicaragua), Guang-Pi (China)

Oil Extraction

• There are two process for oil extraction from jatropha seed.– Mechanical

• Manually 50% Electrically 60%

– Chemical• Solvent Extraction

– Hexane is mostly used– 48%-98% Extraction Efficiency– Cheap, Narrow Distillation Range.

Bio diesel Production Basics

• Basic routes Homogenous Base catalyzed trans-esterification. Homogenous Acid catalyzed trans-esterification. Enzyme Catalyzed trans-esterification. Trans-esterification using Super Critical Alcohol. Trans-esterfication using Heterogeneous Catalyst.

Bio Diesel - Manufacture

CH2-O-COR CH2-OH

| KOH, rt, 6h |

CH-O-COR + 3R’OH 3RCOOR’ + CH-OH

| |

CH2-O-CO-R CH2-OH

(100 kg) (10.55 kg) (.1 kg) (100 kg) (10.55 kg)

Oil Alcohol KOH Bio Diesel Glycerin

Base Catalyzed Trans-Esterification NaOH is the main component used due to being cheaper. Raw materials needed is a refined vegetable oil (otherwise

saponification reaction would consume the catalyst. Purification of glycerol is difficult Reaction time is about 1-2hrs. This time it is the most cheapest method available. Amount of equipment is high.

Acid Catalyzed Trans-Esterification

• Sulphuric Acid is commonly used.• Reaction is 4000 times slower than base catalyzed.• No soap production is their.• It can treat less pure fatty acids with some fatty

acids/or water in it.• Neutralization, Purification & Separation processes are

required.• Due to increase in effluents as non desirable by-

products result in material & energy losses.• Bigger investment is required.

Comparison Of Different Methods

Effect of Free Fatty Acid (FFA)

Soap formationExcessive utilization of alkaliLoss of yieldSlower reactionIncomplete conversionFor best conversion FFA should be lower than 0.8%

Troubleshooting in high FFA containing oils

Formation of soapReduction in catalyst efficiencySeparation process is difficultLow yield of Easter (Bio diesel)Therefore, two stage method was used

Esterification of FFA with mineral acidTranesterification with lye

Economics

1. Farming

2. Oil extraction

3. Transesterification to Biodiesel

Farming Economics

Extraction Economics

• Extraction Units close to cultivation.

• Extration capacity: 3000 tons/year

• Oil extracted: ~30%

Biodiesel conversion economics

• Costs incurred: Personnel, Methanol/Ethanol, Potassium Hydroxide, Utilities, Equipments.

• Revenue: Biodiesel and Glycerol sales. • ROR: 1.5 to 3 years

Breaking the Poverty Cycle

• Providing Employment: Harvesting is labor intensive.

• Not eating into the food crop land• Extracted oil used directly: electricity

generators, farm machines, indoor lighting, etc.

Outlook

• Indian Railways: all trains run on B5 by 2010• Daimler Chrysler: tie up with production

facility in Gujrat; completed 10,000 kms of test runs on the CDI engines

• TATA Motors biodiesel bus-fleet. • Immense interest shown by private investors• Villages developing cooperatives

Business/Research Opportunity

• Solvent extraction of esters from seeds• Seed variety for stabilized yield• Electricity production using Jatropha oil• Transportation issues

Thank You