In the nation-wide drive to generate bio-diesel from jatropha seeds, Anand Agricultural University has come forward to chip in its contribution to the project.<\/b> <\/p>\n
Being roped in by the Gujarat government<\/a> as a partner for technology development in the project, the alma mater has recently developed a processing technology which, it claims, is capable of extracting more oil from less seed and thus offering more jatropha seed oil for conversion into bio-diesel. <\/p>\n The university which has been shortlisted by the Gujarat government a year ago to develop a cost-effective technology for extraction of oil from jatropha seeds and conversion of the oil into bio-diesel for blending it with diesel, has entrusted the task to its faculty of food processing and bio-energy. <\/p>\n Backed by a fund support of Rs 20 lakh from the Planning Commission for this purpose, the faculty has recently designed and fabricated a processing plant at a cost of Rs 10 lakh. “The plant is capable of extracting one kg of oil from 3.5 kg of jatropha seed against the common practice of producing the oil from 5 kg of the seed,\u201d DC Joshi, dean of the faculty, told ET. <\/p>\n Apart from Ananad Agriculture University, there are some more research institutes which have also developed technologies for processing bio-diesel from a number of agricultural seeds, including that of jatropha.<\/p>\n However, the faculty claims that it has developed a unique oil extraction technology. “This is because the plant it has developed is capable of de-hulling and pulverisation of the seed and later steam cooking the oil on a continuous basis, leading to oil recovery up to 85%. While other technologies available at present, using the transesterification route, offers less recovery,\u201d Mr Joshi said. <\/p>\n Sources in the South-Eastern railways said if the faculty\u2019s claim comes true, it will be good for the country given shortages of jatropha seeds against a huge demand for bio-diesel. The railways is keen for the development and application of such a cost-effective seed processing technology as it also has initiated steps to produce bio-diesel. <\/p>\n