Page 133 - Biofuels Refining and Performance

116 Chapter Four

for lighting purposes, as lacquer, in soap manufacture, and as a textile
lubricant. It is also used for medicinal purposes for its strong purging
effect. The leaves are used in the treatment of malaria. Products useful
as plasticizer, hide softeners, and hydraulic fluid have been obtained
after halogenation [75]. The wood is used for fuel. The cake, after oil
extraction, cannot be used for animal feed due to its toxicity, but is a good
organic fertilizer. The wood is very flexible and is used for basket
making. A water extract of the whole plant has molluscicide effects
against various types of snail, as well as insecticidal properties [77].
Recently, there has been considerable interest in the use of the oil in
small diesel engines. This oil has great potential for biodiesel production
[78–80]. Foidl et al. transesterified J. curcas oil, using a solution of KOH
(0.53 mol) in methanol (10.34 mol) and stirring at 30 C for 30 min [81].
The ester fuel has high quality and meets the existing standards for
vegetable-oil-derived fuels. Some researchers have proposed the use of
immobilized enzymes such as Chromobacterium viscosum, Candida rugosa,
and Porcine pancreas as a catalyst [82, 83]. Modi et al. have proposed the use
of propan-2-ol as an acyl acceptor for immobilized Candida antarctica lipase
B. Best results have been obtained by means of 10% Novozym-435 based
on oil weight, with a alcohol–oil molar ratio of 4:1 at 50 C for 8 h [84].
Zhu et al. have proposed the use of a heterogeneous solid superbase cat-
alyst (catalyst dosage of 1.5%) and calcium oxide, at 70 C for 2.5 h, with
a methanol–oil molar ratio of 9:1 to produce biodiesel [85]. The lubrication
properties of this biodiesel have also been taken into consideration [51].

4.2.6 Karanja seed oil
Crop description. Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre, P. glabra Vent., Cytisus
pinnatus L., Derris indica (Lam.) Bennett, and Galedupa indica Lam.—
commonly known as karanja, pongam, coqueluche, Vesi Ne Wai, vesivesi,
hongay, and honge—belong to the Leguminaceae family and are widely
distributed in tropical Asia (see Fig. 4.7). The tree is drought-resistant,
tolerant to salinity, and is commonly found in East Indies, Philippines,
and India. The karanja tree grows to a height of about 1 m and bears pods
that contain one or two kernels. The kernel oil content varies from 27%
to 39% and contains toxic flavonoids, including 1.25% karanjin and 0.85%
pongamol [86–88]. The fatty acid composition consists of oleic acid
(44.5–71.3%), linoleic acid (10.8–18.3%), palmitic acid (3.7–7.9%), stearic
acid (2.4–8.9%), and lignoceric acid (1.1–3.5%) [86, 89].

Main uses. The oil is used mainly in agriculture, pharmacy (particularly
in the treatment of skin diseases), and the manufacture of soaps. It has
insecticidal, antiseptic, antiparasitic, and cleansing properties, like
neem oil [86–88]. The cake after oil extraction may be used as manure.