Mobile Plant for Biodiesel Production from Jatropha Curcas Seeds, in Colombian Caribbean Regions

Abstract

Jatropha Curcas is a wild plant whose parts offer a viable and sustainable alternative in various applications. This work presents the conceptual design of a mobile plant for producing biodiesel from Jatropha Curcas seeds, and a basic analysis of the technical viability for its operation in rural areas in the Colombian Caribbean region, where energy demands are not fully covered, and where the climatic conditions and soil quality are appropriate for growing Jatropha Curcas. The mobile biodiesel plant consists of a unit for the extraction of oil from the Jatropha seeds and a production unit where the oil is processed to obtain biodiesel. Once the plant starts the production, the energy required for its operation is self-supplied using the biodiesel that is produced. Due to its mobile design, this biodiesel plant can be moved around small crops to process the Jatropha Curcas and supply energy in farms. The potential applications of the products obtained in the mobile plant, apart from the biodiesel, are also explained, as a reference for future projects that support the sustainable operation of a biorefinery from Jatropha Curcas.