The prospect of kemiri sunan (Reutalis trisperma B. airy shaw) development as a source of bio-oil from inedible crops

Abstract

Kemiri Sunan [Reutealis trisperma (Blanco) Airy Shaw] is a crop oil-producing plant with great potential as a source of raw materials for the oleochemical, biofuels, and other derivate product industries. Here, we focus on the prospect and potential of the kemiri sunan plant as a potential source of biofuel from inedible crops. The main potential lies in the fruit, which a dry seed production rate of 10-15 tons/ha/year or equivalent to about 8 tonnes of crude oil/ha/yr or about 7 tonnes of biodiesel/ha/yr. This uniqueness can be used as a source of raw materials for biofuel and other chemical industries that do not compete with crop oils for food. However, its current development in Indonesia is still constrained by the availability of land. The alternative that can be taken is to utilize unproductive land, including sub-optimal land, ex-mining land, and other degraded lands. Constraints of limited land for the development of kemiri sunan can be overcome by utilizing less productive lands, including ex-mining land, dry climate dry land, and reservoir buffer land. The condition of the land is sufficient to support the growth and development of the kemiri sunan plant which is quite good. The plant's character is in the form of a tree with a shady leaf crown and a deep root system that makes this plant very useful as a conservation plant on these lands.