Spiga

Jatropha Curcas - Tuba Tuba: A Source Of Renewable Fuel


According to wikipedia, Jatropha Curcas (tuba-tuba)(tubang bakod) is a perennial poisonous shrub belonging to the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family. It is an uncultivated non-food wild-species.

Jatropha curcas is a good source of renewable fuel and it is one of the best candidates for future biodiesel production. Jatropha seeds are crushed producing jatropha oil that can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel that can be used in a standard diesel car, while the residue can also be processed into biomass to power electricity plants. Jatropha oil has high saponification value, making it an excellent substrate for soap-making.

Jatropha, a native of Central America, was brought to Europe by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century and has since spread worldwide, even though, until recently, it had few uses: malaria treatment, a windbreak for animals, live fencing and candle-mak-ing. An ingredient in folk remedies around the world, it earned the nickname “physic nut”, but its sap is a skin irritant, and ingesting three untreated seeds can kill a person.

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