Jatropha Seed Cake Research Articles

Analyses of Liquid Products from Catalytic Pyrolysis of Jatropha Seed Cakes

In this work, the decomposition behaviors of mainly jatropha seed cake have been examined for desired liquid organic hydrocarbons. In order to check liquid product yield, thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermogravimetric (DTG) analyses of jatropha wastes were first carried out. The data investigation shows little difference in the value of weight loss between jatropha seed cake and seed shell. The weight loss approximately remains unchanged by the presence of H-ZSM-5 catalysts, but distributions of liquid products formed during pyrolysis, which were examined by Py-GC/MS analysis, were dramatically changed. In fact, the pyrograms obtained in the presence of catalyst at 550 °C were found to be aromatic hydrocarbon selectivity above 90% with the nitrogen-containing compounds of only 2.3%, while, with no catalyst, widely ranged organic products were formed. In the catalytic pyrolysis using quartz reactor, however, the selectivity to aromatic hydrocarbons is only 12.2%, while the N-compounds are 33.9%. Not only the increase in aromatic selectivity, but also the decrease in selectivity to N-compounds would be closely related to both acidity and pore structure of catalyst materials such as H-ZSM-5 and β-zeolite. The postulated reaction pathway was proposed, in order to explain the formation of N-containing compounds as well as aromatic hydrocarbons.

Evaluations of the nutritional value of Jatropha curcas protein isolate in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Jatropha curcas seeds are rich in oil and protein. The oil is used for biodiesel production. Jatropha seed cake (JSC) obtained after oil extraction is rich in protein; however, it is toxic (phorbol esters content 1.3 mg/g) and consists of 50-60% shells, which are indigestible. The principle of isoelectric precipitation was used to obtain Jatropha protein isolate (JPI) from JSC and it was detoxified (DJPI). Carp (n = 45, 20.3 ± 0.13 g) were randomly distributed into five groups with three replicates and for 12-week fed iso-nitrogenous diets (crude protein 38%): Control [fishmeal (FM)-based protein]; J(50) and J(75) (50% and 75% of FM protein replaced by DJPI); S(50) and S(75) (50% and 75% of FM protein replaced by soy protein isolate). Growth performance and nutrient utilisation parameters were highest in S(75) group and not significantly different to those in J(50) and S(50) groups but were significantly higher than those for all other groups. Similar trend was observed for protein and energy digestibilities of experimental diets, whereas opposite trend was observed for the feed to gain ratio. Activities of intestinal digestive enzymes did not different significantly between the five groups. In conclusion, DJPI is a good quality protein source for carp.

Detoxification of Jatropha curcas Seeds for Use in Nutrition of Monogastric Livestock as Alternative Feedstuff

3 Abstract: An experiment was conducted to investigate the utilization of Jatropha seed cake by Albino rats. Jatropha Seed Cake (JSC) treated by boiling, fermentation followed by extraction with equal volumes of hexane and ethanol was included in diets at graded levels of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%. Data obtained on performance and body organ indices showed that rats tolerated up to 15% dietary JSC without adverse effects on the measured parameters in relation to the corn-soy reference diet (p>0.05). However, 20 and 25% inclusion levels elicited mortality in all the animal subjects receiving the diets within one week in the course of the experimental trial.