Analysis of the Jatro seed shows the following chemical composition :
Moisture 6.20%
Protein 18.00%
Fat 38.00%
Carbohydrates 17.00%
Fiber 15.50 %
Asg 5.30%
The oil conten is 35 - 40 in the see and 50 - 60 % in the kermel. The oil contains 21% satured fatty acids and 79 % unsaturated fatty acids. There are some chemicals eed which are poisonous and render the oil not appropriate for human consumption.
It is significant to point out that, the non-edible vegetable oil of jatro curcas has the requisite potential of providing a promising and commercially viable alternative to diesel oil since it has desirable sicochemical and performance characteristics comparable to diesel. Cars could be run with Jatro Curcas without requiring much change in design.
The chemical analysis of Jatro Curcas is given in Table (1).
ITEM VALUE
Acid value 38.2
Saponification value 195.0
Iodine value 101.7
Viscosity (31°C) "Fatty Acid" 40.4
Palmitic acid % 4.2
Stearic acid % 6.9
Oleic acid % 43.1
Linoleic acid % 34.3
Other acids % 1.4
The comparison of properties of Jatro oil and standard specifications of diesel oil are shown in Table (2).:
SPECIFICATIONS STANDARDS SPECS JCO STANDARD SPECS DIESEL
Specific Gravity 0.9186 0.82 / 0.84
Flash point 240/110 °C 50° C
Carbon residue 0.64 0.15 or less
Cetane Value 51.0 50.0 up
Distillation Point 295 °C 350 °C
Kinematics viscosity 50.73 CS 2.7 cs up
Sulr % 0.13 % 1.2 % or less
Calorific Value 9 470 kcal / kg 10 170 kcal / kg
Pour point 8 ° C 10° C
Colour 4.0 4 or less
Table (3) : sical and Chemical properties of Diesel Fuel and Curcas Oil
Table (3)
PROPERTY CURCAS OIL DIESEL OIL
Viscosity (cp) 30°C 52.6 (5.51)2 3.60
Specific Gravity 15° / 4° 0.917 / 0.923 0.841 / 0.85
C (0.881)
Solidifying point (°C) 2 0.14
Cetane Value 51.0 (38) 47.8 . 59
Flash point °C 110 / 340 80
Carbon Rsidue % 0.64 < 0.05 < 0.15
Distillation °C 284 . 295 < 350 . < 370
Sulr % 0.13 . 0.16 < 10.12
Acid Value 1.0 . 38.2
Saporification Value 188 . 198
Iodine value 90.8 . 112.5
Refractive Index (30°C) 1.47