Jatropha oil

Jatropha oil is vegetable oil produced from the seeds of the "Jatropha curcas", a plant that can grow in wastelands. "Jatropha curcas" grows almost anywhere, even on , sandy and saline soils. It can also on the poorest stony soil and grow in the s of rocks.

Usage as Biodiesel

When jatropha seeds are crushed, the resulting jatropha oil can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel that can be used in a standard diesel car, while the residue can also be processed into biomass to power electricity plants. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2155351.ece Poison plant could help to cure the planet] "Times Online", 28 July 2007.]

The plant yields more than four times as much fuel per hectare as soybean, and more than ten times that of maize (corn). A hectare of jatropha produces 1,892 litres of fuel. [cite journal
title=India's Big Plans for Biodiesel
url=http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/17940/
journal=Technology Review
publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology
date=December 27 2006
author=Michael Fitzgerald
accessdate=2007-05-03]

Researchers at Daimler Chrysler Research explored the use of jatropha oil for automotive use, concluding that although jatropha oil as fuel "has not yet reached optimal quality, ... it already fulfills the EU norm for biodiesel quality". Archer Daniels Midland Company, Bayer CropScience and Daimler AG have a joint project to develop jatropha as a biofuel [cite web
url=http://www.daimler.com/dccom/0-5-7153-1-1035042-1-0-0-0-0-0-8-7145-0-0-0-0-0-0-1.html
title=Archer Daniels Midland Company, Bayer CropScience and Daimler to Cooperate in Jatropha Biodiesel Project
publisher=DaimlerChrysler] . Three Mercedes cars powered by Jatropha diesel have already put some 30,000 kilometres behind them. The project is supported by DaimlerChrysler and by the German Association for Investment and Development (Deutschen Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft, DEG).

Goldman Sachs recently cited "Jatropha curcas" as one of the best candidates for future biodiesel production. [ [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118788662080906716.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Jatropha Plant Gains Steam In Global Race for Biofuels] ] However, despite its abundance and use as an oil and reclamation plant, none of the "Jatropha" species has been properly domesticated and, as a result, its productivity is variable, and the long-term impact of its large-scale use on soil quality and the environment is unknown. World Agroforestry Centre (2007) [http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/news/default.asp?NewsID=75F25096-4E40-4437-B445-37AD534D033F When oil grows on trees] ] However, because jatropha is not edible, and because it can grow in harsh climates, it can be planted in areas where it won't compete for resources needed to grow food. [.http://www.nuwireinvestor.com/articles/jatropha-fuels-land-investment-51144.aspx]

Myanmar Biodiesel

Myanmar is also actively pursuing the use of jatropha oil. On 15 December 2005, Head of State, Senior General Than Shwe, said “the States and Divisions concerned are to put 50,000 acres (200 km²) under the physic nut plants [Jatropha] each within three years totalling seven hundred thousand acres (2,800 km²) during the period”. On the occasion of Myanmar’s Peasant Day 2006, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe described in his a message that “For energy sector which is an essential role in transforming industrial agriculture system, the Government is encouraging for cultivation of physic nut plants nationwide and the technical know how that can refine physic nuts to bio diesel has also identified.” He would like to urge peasants to cultivate physic nut plants on a commercial scale with major aims for emergence of industrial agriculture system, for fulfilling rural electricity supply and energy needs, for supporting rural areas development and import substituteeconomy.

In 2006, the chief research officer at state-run Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise said Myanmar hoped to completely replace the country's oil imports of 40,000 barrels a day with home-brewed, jatropha-derived biofuel. Other government officials declared Myanmar would soon start exporting jatropha oil. Despite the military's efforts, the jatropha campaign apparently has largely flopped in its goal of making Myanmar self-sufficient in fuel.

References

External links

* [http://www.jatrophabiodiesel.org Jatropha plantation from 'Soil to Oil']
* [http://www.jatrophaplantsource.com A Self-help Assistance Program's Jatropha Tree Planting Project]
* [http://www.jatrophacurcasplantations.com Jatropha Curcas Plantations - Articles and information on Jatropha cultivation]
* [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7BA3239F-7D00-464D-8640-1494E54F68B1.htm Jatropha Plant power can solve fuel problem]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6278140.stm BBC report of Jatropa Biofuel]
* [http://www.jatrophaworld.org The worldwide online Jatropha Portal]
* [http://www.jatrophaafrica.com Jatropha Africa Biodiesel Feedstock Company in Ghana West Africa/UK Lion Bridge Ventures Ltd]

* cite web
url=http://environmental.scum.org/biofuel/jatropha/
title=Size does matter - The possibilities of cultivating Jatropha curcas for biofuel production in developing countries Case study report on the relationship with food security. Contains lots of references and background information.
* cite news
publisher=New York Times
title=Mali’s Farmers Discover a Weed’s Potential Power
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/world/africa/09biofuel.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
date=September 9, 2007
accessdate=2007-09-09
* [http://www.cababstractsplus.org/google/abstract.asp?AcNo=20053154746 Fatty acid composition and properties of Jatropha seed oil and its methyl ester]

News

* [http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=1114 Air NZ sees biofuel salvation in jatropha] .