POTENSI BIJI JARAK PAGAR SEBAGAI RODENTISIDA ALAMI

[JATROPHA SEED POTENTIAL AS A NATURAL RODENTICIDE]. The controlling of rat's pest attacks often use chemical control that adversely affects non-target animals and leaves a residue for the environment. One of the recommended controls is to use natural rodenticides derived from jatropha seeds and do not harm non-target animals that are environmentally friendly. This research aims to determine the interaction and the best combination of bait mixed with jatropha seeds on the death of Mus musculus, as well as the type of bait and the best dose of jatropha seeds on the death of Mus musculus. The design in this study used a completely randomized design consisting of two factors, the first factor was the bait and the second factor was the dose of jatropha seeds. The results showed that there was an interaction between the type of bait and the dose of jatropha seeds on the amount of feed consumed by Mus musculus. The combination of bait type and dose of jatropha seeds that was best for the mortality of Mus musculus was found in the treatment of rice flour with 3.0 g of jatropha seeds, cornflour with 3.0 g of jatropha seeds, and fish meal with 3.0 g of jatropha seeds. The best dose of jatropha seeds in reducing the bodyweight of Mus musculus, accelerating the time of death, and increasing the percentage of death was 3.0 g of jatropha seeds with an average decrease in body weight of Mus musculus reaching 75%, and the fastest death for five days, and able to kill 100% of Mus musculus.

A Technical Analysis of Solid Recovered Fuel from Torrefied Jatropha Seed Residue via a Two-Stage Mechanical Screw Press and Solvent Extraction Process

This study investigated the torrefaction of de-oiled Jatropha seed residue after a two-stage sequential process consisting of mechanical screw pressing and solvent extraction using n-hexane (denoted as JMS). The optimal torrefaction temperature (Tr) and torrefaction time (tr) were determined in the ranges of 260–300 °C and 10–60 min, respectively, so to achieve a better heating value and satisfactory energy densification (ED) with acceptable mass loss. Thermogravimetric analysis was employed to elucidate the thermal decomposition behaviors of JMS. By comparison with the torrefaction of Jatropha seed residue after mechanical oil extraction by screw pressing only (namely, JMET), the results indicated that the ED of the torrefaction of JMS yielding the torrefied product JMST (two-stage product) was higher than that of the torrefaction of JME giving the torrefied product JMET (single-stage product). Further, it was found that JMET contained some tar, which was attributed to a thermal reaction in the residual oil in JME during torrefaction. The tar/oil content of JMET was about 1.0–1.8 wt.% in the determined optimal conditions. Thus, the enhanced recovery of the residual oil is advantageous not only because it allows obtaining more oil from Jatropha seed residue with a positive net energy gain but also because it prevents the formation of tar in torrefied biomass products.

Characterisation of briquettes from forest wastes: Optimisation approach

: Waste from a forest environment constitutes an enormous quantity of renewable energy resources. In this study undesirable forest materials, such as jatropha seed shells (JSSs) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis wood shavings (EcWSs) were used in the production of briquettes with Acacia senegal as the binder using mixing proportions of 0 : 100, 25 : 75, 50 : 50, 75 : 25 and 100 : 0 while the binder was varied from 50, 60, 70, 80 to 90 g. Some physical properties, such as the density, moisture content, water resistance and shatter index, were optimised using the response surface methodology at these mixing proportions. The outcome of the production showed the briquettes to have mean values of 0.66 kg·m^–3, 11.51, 91.12 and 99.7 % for the density, moisture content, water resistance and shatter index, respectively. The optimum mixing ratio and binder quantity of 75 : 25 and 60 g, respectively, would result in a briquette having a 0.70 kg·m^–3, 10.88, 98.11 and 99.86% density, moisture content, water resistance and shatter index, respectively. It has been revealed that the JSS and EcWS are potential organic wastes which could be used as a feedstock for the production of briquettes. It could be concluded that the variation in the mixing proportion of the JSSs, EcWSs and A. senegal significantly affected the properties of the produced briquettes.

Evaluation of bio-detoxification of Jatropha curcas seed cake and cottonseed cake by basidiomycetes: nutritional and antioxidant effects

Poultry and swine are the major proportion of the livestock industry in terms of output value. To meet the growing need for protein sources in these sectors, the use of biomasses coming from agro-industrial residues can be an interesting option in the coming years. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of seven basidiomycetes to grow, detoxicate, increase protein content, and also its antioxidant activity when grew in pure Jatropha seed cake (JSC) and cottonseed cake (CSC) biomasses and mixtures containing 50% of lignocellulosic biomasses from coconut husks and Acrocomia aculeata (macauba cake). Results showed that five basidiomycetes were able to grow in these substrates. F. hepatica, P. lecomtei, and P. pulmonarius presented the highest bio-detoxification capacity. All treatments showed a reduction in total phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant activity, but treatments with coconut husks showed lower reductions. Results also indicated that there are molecules produced by basidiomycetes responsible for antioxidant activity other than phenolic compounds. These results indicated that basidiomycetes could detoxify JCS and CSC biomasses, suggesting their possible use in animal feed and that the addition of coconut husks in JSC and macauba cake in cottonseed cake can promote greater colonization by fungi.

Small-size jatropha seed biochar extracted from microwave pyrolysis: Optimization of its biocomposites mechanical properties by mixture design

Microwave pyrolysis of finely ground jatropha seed biochar was used as bio-filler to develop biocomposites. Effects influencing the mechanical properties of the biocomposites were investigated based on varied material ratio. Ratios by percentage of weight were determined by D-optimal (custom) mixture design using the Stat Ease “Design Expert”. The mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and microhardness, were the dependent variables (response). Bio-filler content was optimised to attain the overall best mechanical properties for the biocomposites. The optimized biocomposite that showcased good tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and microhardness biocomposite ratio’s predicted mechanical properties mean values were tensile strength (9.53 MPa), modulus of elasticity (0.730 GPa), and microhardness (20.4 HV) for polylactic acid and biofiller mixture; and tensile strength (7.92 MPa), modulus of elasticity (0.668 GPa), and microhardness (18.7 HV) for polylactic acid, biofiller, and poly(ethylene-alt-maleic anhydride) mixture. Models generated by the mixture design showcased some degree of noise and error present; however, the outcome through the optimization step was generally reliable for predicting the mechanical properties. Additional data gathered through experimental testing and replicates could improve the reliability of the model.

Bioethanol production from Jatropha seed cake via dilute acid hydrolysis and fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The interest in using Jatropha curcas L. as a feedstock for the production of bio-diesel is rapidly growing. Available literatures holds [promise for the simultaneous wasteland reclamation capability and oil yields of the plant hence fueling the Jatropha bio-ethanol hopes. This research investigated the bioconversion of cellulose from press cakes of Jatropha oil seeds, which is a byproduct from a biodiesel plant, into ethanol by using the methods of acid pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The process includes the pretreatment method of the finely ground cellulosic solid oilseed cake with dilute sulphuric acid and heating the mixture at a high temperature to break the crystalline structure of the lignocellulose to facilitate the hydrolysis of cellulosic component by dilute acids. About 63.33% ethanol was recovered as confirmed by the infra-red spectroscopy and the investigated physicochemical parameters show that the produced bioethanol holds promise for its use as a possible candidate for replacement for petroleum diesel.

Kinetic Studies of Biodiesel Production from Jatropha curcas Oil

The world is confronted with the twin crisis of fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation caused by fossil fuel usage. Biodiesel produced from renewable feedstocks such as Jatropha seed oil or animal fats by transesterification offers a solution. Although biodiesel has been produced from various vegetable oils such as Jatropha seed oil, the reaction kinetics studies are very few in literature, hence the need for this study. Jatropha curcas seed oil was extracted and analyzed to determine its free fatty acid and fatty acid composition. The oil was transesterified with methanol at a molar ratio of methanol to oil 8:1, using 1% sodium hydroxide catalyst, at different temperatures ranging from 32oC to 65oC, at atmospheric pressure. The order of the reactions with respect to the triglyceride's disappearance in the forward reaction at the chosen temperatures was found to be pseudo-first-order and found to be first-order for the reaction at 32oC. The rate constants of the three consecutive reaction steps at 65oC, namely, triglyceride to diglyceride, diglyceride to monoglyceride, and monoglyceride to glycerol, were found to be 0.422 min-1 0.117 min-1, and 0.037min-1, respectively. Their corresponding activation energies in J/mol were 22.165, 3.136, and 19.770, respectively.