Evaluating the Properties of Biofuel from Seed Cakes of Jatropha curcas L.

Abstract

Jatropha curcas plants were cultivated in the drinking and sewage water treatment station in Al-Gabal Al-Asfar, Cairo, Egypt subjected to different irrigation treatments, namely tap water, sewage water, sewage water + sludge and sewage water + sludge sprayed with: tap water, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm of the growth retardant cycocel (CCC). The objectives of this current study were: A. to investigate the effect of these different irrigation treatments on the physiological aspects of leaves and seed cakes of Jatropha curcas plants. B. to investigate the effect of these different irrigation treatments on the total reducing sugars content and bioethanol production from the seed cakes of Jatropha curcas plants. A preliminary screening experiment was conducted to determine which seed cake resulting from the different irrigation treatments achieved the highest removal efficiencies of MB dye and Cr (VI) for subsequent optimization processes. In the following, brief accounts for the main experimental results are given: 1. Analyses of Jatropha curcas leaves showed enhanced photosynthetic pigment contents [chlorophyll (a), chlorohyll (b) and carotenoids] and consequently increased total soluble sugars, polysaccharides, total carbohydrates, cellulose, to