POTENTIAL OF JATROPHA BIODIESEL - A REVIEW

Authors: Avinash Kumar Namdeo, Shivam Kotwar, Rahul Patidar

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Abstract

Energy is basic requirement for economic development of a country. Every sector of Indian economy—agriculture, industry transport, commercial and domestic needs input of energy. The economic development plans implemented since independence have necessarily required increasing amount of energy. As a result consumption of energy in all forms has been steadily rising all over the country. This growing consumption of energy has also resulted in the country becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Rising prices of oil and gas and potential shortage in future lead to concern about the security of energy supply needed to sustain our economic growth. Increased use of fossil fuels also causes environmental problems both locally and globally [1]. The major part of all energy consumed in most parts of the world comes from fossil fuel sources such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. However, these nonrenewable sources will be exhausted in near future. Thus, the search for alternative sources of renewable and sustainable energy has gained importance with the potential to solve many current social issue such as the rising price of global warming caused by combustion of fossil fuel. This paper reviews the production and performance of biodiesel obtained from Jatropha oil. Keywords:Jatropha oil, biodiesel, alternative fuel, transesterification.

Introduction

Diesel engines dominates the field of transportation and agriculture machinery on account of its superior fuel efficiency, the consumption of fuel in India is several times higher than that of petrol consumption[2]. Roughly estimate of petrol and diesel consumption is 30 and 70%, respectively.The diesel engine is a major contributor to air pollution especially within cities and along urban traffic routes. In addition to air pollution that causes ground level ozone and smog in the atmosphere, diesel exhaust also contains particulate and hydrocarbon toxic air contaminants (TAC)[3]. Now society has become more aware of harmful effects of the various exhaust emission coming out of the engines and there is tremendous pressure on researchers to reduce exhaust emissions. Various harmful effect of exhaust emission are already established and known to today’s society. So research is being done all around the world to reduce the emissions of automobiles[2].

Conclusion

Boidiesel fuels are recognized as one of the effective solutions for this problem. We have studied the properties of biodiesel prepared from jatropha oil. These fuels are compatible with diesel engine. From this review, the following conclusions are drawn: 1. Jatropha oil has high viscosity and low volatility. This makes it unsuitable for direct use in diesel engine. 2. By transesterification process the fuel properties are brought closer to fossil diesel fuel. 3. JME is produced from non-edible oils, were used in a diesel engine. Their commercialization will produce green jobs and economic stability for India.