Page 144 - Biofuels Refining and Performance

Raw Materials to Produce Low-Cost Biodiesel 127

Figure 4.16 Camelina sativa L.
Crantz. (Photo courtesy of Prof.
Arne Anderberg [http://linnaeus.
nrm.se/flora/di/brassica/camel/
camemic.html].)

extent in Holland, Belgium, and Russia. The oil content of camelina
seeds ranges from 29.9% to 38.3%. However, it is an underexploited
oilseed crop at present. Its fatty acid profile includes oleic acid
(14–19.5%), linoleic acid (18.8–24%), linolenic acid (27–34.7%), eicosenoic
acid (12–15%), and erucic acid (less than 4%) [133]. Budin et al. have
concluded that camelina is a low-input crop possessing a potential for
food and nonfood exploitation [133].

Main uses. This crop has recently been rediscovered as an oil crop. At the
moment, the feasibility of utilizing oil from this plant is being investi-
gated [53, 134]. Oil is used as a luminant and emollient for softening the
skin. Fiber is obtained from the stems. Fröhlich and Rice have investi-
gated production of methyl ester from camelina oil. Biodiesel was pre-
pared by means of a single-stage esterification using methanol and
KOH [135]. Steinke et al. have developed both alkali-catalyzed and
lipase-catalyzed alcoholyses of camelina oil [136, 137].

4.3.4 Tigernut oil
Crop description. Cyperus esculentus L.—commonly known as tigernut,
chufa sedge, yellow nutsedge, and earth almond—belongs to the family
Cyperaceae and grows in warm temperate to subtropical regions of the
Northern Hemisphere (see Figs. 4.17 and 4.18). It can be found in Africa,
South America, Europe, and Asia. It is a perennial herb, growing up to