Optimization of Jatropha curcas pure plant oil production

The use of pure plant oils as fuel, either directly or after conversion of the oil to bio-diesel, is considered to be one of the potential contributions to the transformation of the current fossil oil based economy to a sustainable bio-based one. The production of oil producing seeds using plants that do not interfere with food production or which make use of fertile land that might be needed for food production is seen as an attractive option.

The use of Jatropha curcas which is a non-food oilseed producing plant that can be grown on marginal land, has therefore been stimulated during the last decade. However, commercial scale use for the production of pure plant oil or bio-diesel has so far not been developed. From a product technology viewpoint, in which the final product specification is the leading criterion for the processing steps needed to obtain the final product from the plant-based feedstock, each unit operation in the processing chain has to be considered, optimized and integrated with others such that the best result is achieved. The research described in this thesis is therefore aimed at developing this optimum pathway from harvesting seeds, through storage, drying, pre-treatment, oil extraction, purification and stabilization of the oil.

The research described in this thesis is therefore aimed at developing this optimum pathway from harvesting seeds, drying, through storage, pre-treatment, oil extraction, purification and stabilization of the oil.