Jatropha Oil Plant

The seeds of the Jatropha plant are about one- third oil, and if this oil is processed correctly it does not need to be refined. This requires using specific types of machinery that take the seeds through several different stages in order to draw off the oil.the oil is extracted from the seeds. There are actually several methods for accomplishing this, but they vary based on cost and feasibility. If you are planning on producing a small amount of the oil for personal biodiesel needs, then you will probably want to use a mechanical press that draws out the oil through simple pressure. Other mechanical presses designed to remove aromatic oils can work for the Jatropha seeds as well, although these can only produce small amounts at one time. More complex processes use solvents to extract the oil, or even magnetic resonance, but mechanical pressing is considered more environmentally friendly.

Process of Jatropha Oil Plant

1. Pick the mature seeds. The seeds become mature approximately three months after the blooms fall off.
2. Heat the seeds, either by roasting over a small fire or placing in a black container in full sunlight. Be careful not to burn the seeds, if using a fire.
3. Press the ground seeds to extract the oil. A simple ram press, made from a hydraulic or screw-type jack, will suffice. Fill the hopper with ground seeds, increase pressure just until the oil starts flowing. Hold the pressure until the flow stops, then increase the pressure until flow resumes. Continue until no more oil flows.
4. Catch the extracted oil in a pail. Allow the sediment to settle out of the oil for approximately one week before using or processing into biodiesel.