Biodiesel production from high free fatty acids content Jatropha curcas L. oil using dual step process

This study was conducted to assess fruit and seed yield, oil content and oil composition of Jatropha curcas fertilized with different doses of nitrogen and potassium in Espinal (Tolima, Colombia). The yields ranged from 4,570 to 8,800 kg ha-1 of fruits and from 2,430 to 4,746 kg ha-1 of seeds. These yields showed that the fertilizer dose of 150 kg ha-1 N + 120 kg ha-1K increased fruit production by 92% and seed production by 95%, which represents an increase of about 100% in oil production, which increased from 947 to 1,900 kg ha-1. The total oil content in the seeds ranged from 38.7 to 40.1% (w/w) with a high content of the unsaturated fatty acids oleic (> 47%) and linoleic acid (> 29%). The highest content of oleic acid in the seed oil was from the unfertilized control plants and plants with an application of 100 kg ha-1 of N and 60 kg ha-1 of K, with an average of 48%. The lowest content of oleic acid was registered when a low dose of nitrogen and a high level of potassium were applied at a ratio of 1:2.4 and doses of 50 kg ha-1 N + 120 kg ha-1 K, respectively. Low contents of the saturated fatty acids palmitic (13.4%) and stearic (7.26%) were obtained, making this oil suitable for biodiesel production. The nitrogen was a more important nutrient for the production and quality of oil in J. curcas than potassium under the studied conditions of soil and climate.

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Morphophysiological Traits as Indicators of Genetic Diversity in Brazilian Populations of Jatropha curcas L. Grown Under Water Deficit

Journal of Agricultural Studies ◽

10.5296/jas.v8i3.16707 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 527

Author(s):

Leandro Dias da Silva ◽

Fábio Pinto Gomes ◽

Mateus Pires Barbosa ◽

Raul Antônio Araújo do Bonfim ◽

Mikaela Oliveira Souza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Plant Height ◽

Principal Components ◽

Jatropha Curcas ◽

Biodiesel Production ◽

Physiological Traits ◽

Guaiacol Peroxidase ◽

Jatropha Curcas L ◽

Root Area ◽

Genetic Dissimilarity

Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) is a species grown in tropicalcountries and used for biodiesel production. Morphophysiological traits were analyzed to assess the genetic diversity in nine genotypes of J. curcas under deficit water. Seeds of plants from different populations, collected in diferente brazilian regions, were grown under two water regimes (100% and 50% tank capacity). Multivariate analysis was used to characterize genetic diversity. The UPGMA dendrogram built from the genetic distance group indicated the segregation of genotypes into five groups for growth traits and six groups for physiological traits. Then, an principal components analysis was carried out, to evaluate the pattern of character variations and then segregate the characteristics that could distinguish parental genotypes for use in plant breeding. Results showed 65.50% and 56.02% for the two first principal components of growth and physiological traits, respectively. Total root area was the most determining trait for genetic dissimilarity (18.9%) and group formation, followed by plant height (17.9%) and number of leaves (17.6%). On the other hand, stomatal conductance (gs) (24.9%) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) (20.9%) were the most determining physiological traits. The analysis of morphophysiological traits indicated CNPAE-298 and 299 as the most distant genotypes among the plant groups. Under water-limited conditions, total root area, plant height, gs and GPX were the most efficient traits to explain genetic dissimilarity among the genotypes, and for this reason they should be referred as a priority for further studies on genotypes selection in this species.

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