Maximising oil supply and increasing value of byproducts

Animal feed from jatropha meal
The meal (seedcake) produced when jatropha seeds are crushed contains a number of anti-nutritional compounds and is not fit for human or animal consumption. D1 is exploring alternative uses for the jatropha meal to create a valuable by-product, including removing anti-nutritional compounds to make the meal edible for animals. Initial research of the meal resulting from expelling of Jatropha curcas kernels shows that the intrinsic animal nutritional value is very high and comparable to soybean meal. Seedcake can also be used as fertiliser or burned to produce energy.

Oil content and quality testing
The principal economic driver for any feedstock to be a sustainable source for biodiesel production is the oil yield in the harvested seeds and the composition of the oil. D1 has established an efficient testing regime to measure these qualitative and quantitative parameters to support our breeding activities and ensure a sustainable oil supply. This testing regime will assist in the selection of improved Jatropha curcas cultivars with higher and better oil content.

Expelling
An efficient and cost-effective method to expel oil from harvested seeds is important both to ensure that the biodiesel supply chain is economic and to optimise by-product (meal) quality. Different technologies currently being evaluated by D1 include both mechanical and solvent-based extraction.

It is our intention that expelling will be based in a regional centre close to the plantations to reduce transport costs and meet local demand for the seedcake. We are seeking a balance between a large number of small expelling plants for local supply and a smaller number of larger plants for more efficient production but requiring more complex transport and logistics.