Jatropha curcas: A potential crop for phytoremediation of coal fly ash

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to test the heavy metal phytoremediation capacity of Jatropha curcas from fly ash. Both natural accumulation by J. curcas and chemically enhanced phytoextraction was investigated. Plants were grown on FA and FA amended with fertile garden soil, in presence and absence of chemical chelating agent EDTA at 0.1 g kg⁻¹ and 0.3 g kg⁻¹ of soil. EDTA enhanced the uptake of all five elements (Fe, Al, Cr, Cu and Mn) tested. Fe and Mn were retained more in roots while Cu, Al and Cr were translocated more to the shoot. Metal accumulation index indicates that the effect of EDTA at 0.3 g kg⁻¹ was more pronounced than EDTA at 0.1 g kg⁻¹ in terms of metal accumulation. Biomass was enhanced up to 37% when FA was amended with GS. Heavy metal uptake was enhanced by 117% in root, 62% in stem, 86% in leaves when EDTA was applied at 0.3 g kg⁻¹ to FA amended with GS. Study suggest that J. curcas has potential of establishing itself on FA when provided with basic plant nutrients and can also accumulate heavy metals many folds from FA without attenuating plant growth.     

麻疯油酯化衍生物的制备及其毒性研究

以麻疯油为原料．在碱性条件下与乙醇进行酯化反应合成麻疯油酯化衍生物,考察了反应温度、醇油比、催化剂用量及反应时间等因素对酯交换率的影响,采用正交实验确定最佳反应条件为：反应温度70℃、醇油比（体积比）6：1、反应时闾100min、催化剂用量1．5％,在此条件下酯交换率为95．65％。进一步研究发现麻疯油酯化衍生物对鲤鱼幼苗具有一定的毒性,48h时的LD50为48．98mg·L^-1,死亡率为100％。     

Solubility of Jatropha and Aquilaria oils in supercritical carbon dioxide at elevated pressures

This study investigated experimental equilibrium solubilities of Jatropha curcas and Aquiliaria crassna oils dissolved in supercritical carbon dioxide at temperatures of 318-338 K and pressures of 20, 25, 30, 35 MPa. The highest solubility of J. curcas and A. crassna oil were 29.8 and 28.4 mg L⁻¹, respectively, at 338 K and 35 MPa. The oil solubilities and the concentration of triglycerides both increased with increasing temperature and pressure. Triglyceride molecules surrounded by carbon dioxide molecules may be proposed since solubilities increased with the flux of supercritical carbon dioxide. The solubility of these two oils linearly increased with the density of supercritical carbon dioxide. Experimental data of the oil solubility were successfully correlated by the Chrastil equation.     

Trigeneration running with raw jatropha oil

The performance and the efficiency of a trigeneration system fueling with pure diesel and with raw jatropha oil are investigated using the ECLIPSE software. The study is based on a diesel engine generating set. The genset is used for electrical power generation only, acting as a single generation. The trigeneration system consists of the genset, a waste heat recovery system and an absorption refrigerator. The genset is used to generate electricity; the waste heat system is used to collect the waste heat from the cooling system and the exhaust from the engine, to supply heating/hot water; and the absorption refrigerator is used to supply cooling/refrigeration, which is driven by the waste heat from the engine instead of electricity. A comparison of the thermal efficiencies and the CO₂ emissions of trigeneration with single generation and cogeneration (combined heat and power — CHP) is carried out. The results from the study show that the thermal efficiency of trigeneration is higher than that of single generation; the CO₂ emissions of trigeneration are lower than that of single generation. The results also show the performance differences between the trigeneration and single generation; and the differences between trigeneration and cogeneration.     

Comparative study of performance and emissions of a diesel engine using Chinese pistache and jatropha biodiesel

An experimental study of the performances and emissions of a diesel engine is carried out using two different biodiesels derived from Chinese pistache oil and jatropha oil compared with pure diesel. The results show that the diesel engine works well and the power outputs are stable running with the two selected biodiesels at different loads and speeds. The brake thermal efficiencies of the engine run by the biodiesels are comparable to that run by pure diesel, with some increases of fuel consumptions. It is found that the emissions are reduced to some extent when using the biodiesels. Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are reduced when the engine run at engine high loads, so are the hydrocarbon (HC) emissions. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions are also reduced at different engine loads. Smoke emissions from the engine fuelled by the biodiesels are lowered significantly than that fuelled by diesel. It is also found that the engine performance and emissions run by Chinese pistache are very similar to that run by jatropha biodiesel.     

Two-step biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas crude oil using SiO2·HF solid catalyst for FFA esterification step

A high quality biodiesel was produced from Mexican Jatropha curcas crude oil (JCCO) by a two step catalyzed process. The free fatty acids (FFA) were first esterified with methanol, catalyzed by a solid catalyst: SiO₂ pretreated with HF. The catalyst showed a high number of Lewis acid surface sites, and no CO₂ or H₂O adsorption activity. This catalyst showed a high FFA esterification activity and high stability. After 30 esterification runs, the catalyst activity remained unchanged. During the second step, the triglycerides present in the JCCO were transesterified with methanol catalyzed by NaOH. The chromatographic analysis of the biodiesel obtained, revealed that the process proposed in this investigation led to a very high quality biodiesel, meeting the international requirements for its utilization as a fuel. The combustion gas emissions of the JCCO biodiesel were studied by FTIR spectroscopy using a laboratory combustor. These preliminary results showed low amounts of aromatic and sulfur containing compounds. However, halogenated compounds and dicyclopentadiene were also detected at the combustor exhaust.     

Genetic variation and genotype by environment interaction in Jatropha curcas L. germplasm evaluated in different environments of Cameroon

Jatropha curcas L. (jatropha) is a perennial plant with a high untapped potential towards sustainable production of food and bioenergy. The transformation of jatropha into a competitive crop requires intensive breeding efforts. The objectives of our study were to (i) assess genetic variation of agronomic and quality traits in different environments, (ii) investigate genotype by environment interactions, and (iii) discuss potential selection strategies. Agronomic and quality traits were assessed on 277 jatropha genotypes that were evaluated over three environments in Cameroon. Genetic variation and heritability of agronomic and quality traits showed excellent prospects to select and breed improved cultivars rapidly. Selection for accumulated seed yield over years seems to be the best choice to increase annual seed and oil yield. Seed yield per month might be incorporated in selection indices to improve the efficiency of fruit harvesting. Selection based on a single testing environment was always inferior to the selection based on multiple environments. The magnitude of genotype by environment interaction (GxE) in jatropha is large. Therefore, testing in multiple environments is a requirement to select improved cultivars with local and broad adaptation.     

Effect of Detoxification on Conformational and Functional Properties of Jatropha curcas Proteins

The effects of detoxification process on conformational and functional properties of Jatropha curcas proteins were investigated. The molecular fractions and structure of proteins were affected more easily by the detoxification process. Compared with the proteins in Jatropha curcas meal, the detoxification process decreased the thermal stability and led to an increase in the surface hydrophobicity with a decrease in the contents of sulfhydryl and disulfide bond of proteins in detoxified Jatropha curcas meal. These conformational sand compositional changes in proteins influenced by the detoxification process, contributed to the relatively good changes in functional properties of detoxified Jatropha curcas meal, such as solubility, water and fat holding capacities, emulsifying properties, and foaming properties. Therefore, the detoxification treatment was not only a promising way to detoxify, but also an effective means to improve the functional properties of detoxified Jatropha curcas meal.     

响应面法优化麻疯树籽油加氢催化制备生物航空燃料工艺

以麻疯树籽油为原料,Pt/SAPO-11-mp为催化剂,通过单因素实验探究反应温度、反应压力、空速和氢油比(氢气与麻疯树籽油体积比,下同)对催化反应过程及航空燃料产物组分分布的影响。在单因素实验的基础上,以C8～C16烃比率为响应值,利用响应面法优化了反应参数。结果表明:最优工艺参数为反应温度406. 33℃、反应压力4. 3 MPa、空速1. 2 h-1、氢油比1 049. 71,在此条件下C8～C16烃比率为73. 96%。对产品进行了理化性能的检测,结果显示,产品的密度、铜片腐蚀、运动黏度、冰点、总酸价、总热值等指标均达到了《3号喷气燃料》的指标要求。