Jatropha Oil Specifications

Jatropha curcas is a drought-resistant small tree, primarily grown in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. It grows up to five meters high and lives for approximately 50 years. The branches contain latex, a milky substance that hardens when exposed to air. The seeds are roughly the size of golf balls and produce a relatively high yield of yellowish liquid, similar to palm oil that can be made into biodiesel. The leaves are smooth and 10 cm to 15 cm in length and width.

Jatropha as a Source of Biodiesel

• Jatropha is a promising source of biodiesel and many countries have started developing programs to produce it on a large scale. India, who is the sixth largest net importer of oil in the world, invests more than 300 million dollars each year in biodiesel research. In 2003, based on promising research, the Indian government became interested in growing jatropha trees as a source of biodiesel. It subsidized a program to establish jatropha plantations on 27 million acres of wasteland. Other countries including Southern China, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Singapore and the Philippines quickly followed suit.

  It was soon discovered, however, that while jatropha can grow in any soil, it needs fertile, well-irrigated soil in order to produce yields sufficient for large-scale use. In order to produce the oil of jatropha on an industrial scale, cultivation methods need to be improved. Ongoing research is being conducted to increase the yields. A San Diego start-up company, SG Biofuels, believes it is on the way to quadrupling jatropha oil yields.

Jatropha as a Hedge

• Before the establishment of plantations for biodiesel, jatropha's most common use was as hedges or living fences. Planted around valuable crops, jatropha hedges protect them from grazing animals. They are also used to reduce boundary disputes and provide shade for plants that require protection from the sun. The dropped leaves decompose, providing organic fertilizer while enhancing earthworm activity, which improves the overall quality of the soil. The roots grow close to the surface in a lateral direction and thus prevent wind and water erosion.

Jatropha as Fertilizer and Insecticide

• The pressed seed cake from the jatropha tree, which is the residue from the oil extraction, is rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and contains more fertilizing nutrients than chicken or cattle manure. It also has insecticidal and molluscicidal properties, and can reduce the amount of nematodes in soil

Jatropha's Medicinal Uses

• The bark of the jatropha tree contains tannins used as astringents. Latex, extracted from the bark, has antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and E. coli. The latex is also an effective styptic for cuts and bruises because of its coagulation properties. The topical application of the root powder in paste form is also used externally as an anti-inflammatory.