Towards making Jatropha curcas (tubang bakod) a viable source of biodiesel oil in the Philippines

Abstract

Jatropha becomes a viable source of biodiesel oil at PhP40/L of crudeoil under high fi uit yields (36, 000 kg/ha), high rates of oilextraction (34% and 38%) and by-products included as added income. Atlow fruit yields (12,000 kg/ha), it will become profitable for farmersif the current diesel oil price increases to about PhP90/L crude oil at30% rate of oil extraction (the estimates exclude processing andmarketing costs). The inherently low Jatropha seed yield explains thelow revenue. Accelerated research must be done to increase further theseed yield of the Jatropha plant, to find ways that will maximize totalfarm yield, and explore other uses of the by-products. For Jatropha tobecome economic as biofuel source, considering the relatively longgestation period (5 years) before the crop reaches optimum fruiting andthe low seed yield of the crop, optimal crop mixes (multiple croppingschemes) or compatible diverse cropping systems involving short maturingcrops and high value fruit/wood trees have to be resorted to in order toincrease the total farm yield and as a risk-minim izing farmingstrategy. Diverse cropping must be complied with by both the public andprivate agencies promoting the massive planting of Jatropha.Additionally, it must be recognized that the technology for processingof Jatropha into biofuel is yet to be established in the country. It isnecessary to accelerate the optimization of processing raw oil intotrans-esterified oil before it can be used as biodiesel oil. To add tofarmers' income, the processing of by-products (press cake) into organicfertilizer or livestock feed and glycerol into high-priced products mayalso have to be considered Jatropha oil has high saponification value,making it an excellent substrate for soap-making. Two products may thenbe profitable from Jatropha: soap and biodiesel. Jatropha as source ofbiofuel presents enormous employment opportunities in the rural areas ifcomprehensive programs are designed to tap the potentials of the crop.Capital (financial and material) infusion in the rural areas will propeleconomic activities. On a national level, it is also recommended thatother sources of renewable bio-energy such as sugarcane, corn andcassava which yield more bio-energy (ethanol) than Jatropha be explored.Technologies, systems and practices that improve energy-use efficiencyshould also be adopted, and alternative non-oil dependent systems,machines and other technologies studied.