Page 76 - Biofuels Refining and Performance

Photosynthetic Plants as Renewable Energy Sources 59

Figure 2.10 Hemp. (Source: www.greenspirit.com.
Used with permission.)

shows the maximum accumulation of protein (24.5%), polyphenol (4.2%),
oil (6.1%), and hydrocarbon (2.0%) contents. The leaf of F. elastica has
been identified to be a good renewable energy source [12].

Calotropis procera. Latex obtained from C. procera could be hydro-
cracked to obtain hydrocarbons under severe thermochemical condi-
tions. Instead, biodegradation is a less energy-intensive technique for
latex degradation. Enhancements in the heptane level have been found
in C. procera latex that was subjected to different fungal and bacterial
treatments, compared to those of untreated ones. Nuclear magnetic res-
onance (NMR) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
analyses reveals that the latex has undergone demethylation, dehy-
drogenation, carboxylation, and aromatization during microbial treat-
ment. Petroleum obtained by hydrotreatment of the biotransformed
latex is proposed to be used as fuel [13]. Some of the important latex-
bearing plants are Hevea brasiliensis, Euphorbia sp., Parthenium agen-
tatum, Pedilanthus macrocarpus, F. elastica, and Manihot glaziorii.
Several resin-rich plants such as Cappaifera multijuga (diesel tree),
Copaifera langsdorffi, Pinus, Dipterocarpus, Shorea sp., and Pithospo-
rum resiniferum produce prolific terpene and oleoresins, and are as
such very desirable fuel crops. Woody and herbaceous plants have spe-
cific growth conditions, depending on the soil type, soil moisture, nutri-
ent content, and sunlight. These factors determine their suitability and
growth rates for specific geographical locations. Cereals such as wheat
and maize, and perennial grasses such as sugarcane have varied yields