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| Jatropha By-Products |
Solvent extraction, as indicated, yields the maximum seed oil, that is 38% by weight of the seed, or 99% of the total available vegetable oil. The residual seed cake resulting from the extraction and the process of sedimentation yield other by-products from Jatropha.
Research shows that the press or seed-cake and other residue from the extracted oil have high mineral content of nitrogen (6%), phosphorous (2, 75%) and potassium (0.94%), which can be used as organic fertilizer. An application of one ton of press cake is equivalent to 200 kg of mineral fertilizer (NPK 12:24:12).
The residual substance obtained from the sedimentation of the oil during the purification process in the tank has also industrial and commercial value. It can be mixed and boiled with caustic soda and water for “raw” soap production.
In addition to these by-products, the process of converting crude Jatropha oil to bio-diesel will result in the recovery of a high percentage of the inputs, especially the methanol used, and production of crude glycerin. The crude glycerin can be refined for industrial and commercial purposes. |
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