Growing Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) as a Potential Second-Generation Biodiesel Feedstock

Dhurba Neupane,Bhupendra Das,Ruijun Qin,Juan K Q Solomon,Sharad Pandey,Zeeshan Ahmed,Pramila Adhikari,Dwarika Bhattarai

doi:10.3390/inventions6040060

Abstract

Dwindling supplies of fossil fuels and their deleterious impacts on human health and the global environment have intensified the search for substitute energy sources. Biodiesel has been identified as a promising renewable energy substitute for diesel fuel due to several comparable and sustainable properties. However, approximately 95% of biodiesel is derived from edible oil crops, threatening the current food supplies. Therefore, the biodiesel production potential from inexpensive, non-edible, and non-conventional bioenergy crops, such as Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.), has attracted the attention of many researchers, policymakers, and industries globally. Jatropha is considered to be the second-generation biofuel feedstocks for biodiesel production. However, sustainable biodiesel generation from J. curcas oil has not yet been attained, owing to different socio-economic, ecological, and technical factors. This study aimed to synthesize the information from the existing literature on the present status and to identify the knowledge gaps for future research on Jatropha by providing comprehensive information regarding its origin and distribution, morphology, phenology, and reproduction, genetic diversity, its productivity, oil content, and fatty acid composition, the methodology used for extracting biodiesel, and agronomic, economic, and environmental aspects of biodiesel production. The germplasm screening of J. curcas and the exploration of its adaptability and agronomic potential across diverse climates are highly desired to promote this crop as an alternative biofuel crop, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Moreover, future research should focus on developing, optimizing, and modernizing the technologies involving seed collection, the processing of seeds, oil extraction, and the production of biodiesel.

Highlights

The global demand for biofuel production has fueled exponentially due to the global concern toward energy security and environmental sustainability in terms of net lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the use of fossil fuels, which are expected to reach approximately 37 gigatons (Gt) in 2035 from 31 Gt in 2011 [1,2,3]
This study has provided a comprehensive review of J. curcas, a second-generation biofuel crop for sustainable biodiesel production in marginal lands of arid and semi-arid regions of the world
It focused on every aspect of the crop, starting from its origin and distribution, genetic diversity, agronomic aspects, its productivity, oil content, and fatty acid profile, methods for extracting biodiesel production, as well as economic and environmental considerations for biodiesel production

Summary

Introduction

The global demand for biofuel production has fueled exponentially due to the global concern toward energy security and environmental sustainability in terms of net lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the use of fossil fuels, which are expected to reach approximately 37 gigatons (Gt) in 2035 from 31 Gt in 2011 [1,2,3]. The favorable alternatives for use as a potential biodiesel are vegetable oils that are derived from palm oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and rapeseed oil, because they are renewable, environmentally friendly, and available even in rural areas, as well as low-cost feedstock containing fatty acids, such as non-edible oils, animal fats, by-products from refining vegetable oils, and waste food oils. The use of vegetable-based products helps to promote rural economic development, in developing countries, because the farmers would directly benefit from the increased demand for vegetable oils [1] This will help to decrease the dependency on fossil fuel imports, improve their economic conditions, and can create new employment opportunities, especially in the agriculture area [7]. Camelina, karanja, and Jatropha have received significant attention due to both their tolerance to growing in poor soils and marginalized lands and their low moisture demand [9]

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