![Sample our Environment & Sustainability journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5935/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Sustainability.jpg"})
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.
Acknowledgements
This work was principally funded by DaimlerChrysler AG, Stuttgart and DEG, Germany. We also gratefully acknowledge the support from UNDP/TMOP, Department of Biotechnology, and Gujarat Industries Commissionerate, Government of Gujarat. We also thank the State Governements in Orissa and Gujarat for allocation of wasteland and the village functionaries for their cooperation. We acknowledge the valuable assistance provided by DaimlerChrysler AG towards analysis of the fuel and the collaborations with University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals Ltd, Udaipur and Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, Heidelberg. We also thank DaimlerChrysler India, Austrian Biofuels Institute, NSIC, Rajkot, VRDE, Ahmednagar and auto journalists for sharing results and experiences of engine/vehicle tests conducted with our JME, Lubrizol India for assistance with lowering of the pour point of JME and Agriculture University, Anand for evaluation of the oil cake for nematicidal action. We thank D.R. Parmar, H.B. Nathani, M.T. Shah, P.N. Rao, A.K. Saha, J.O. Ogunwole and the large number of project assistants who have contributed towards the studies reported above. We also thank the Analytical section of the Institute and CSIR India for generous support towards development of infrastructure and competency base and also by way of the NMITLI programme. Finally, we thank the reviewers and the editorial board for valuable comments and suggestions.