A comparative appraisal of three important oil yielding plants for their biodiesel potential.

In the present scenario, alternative energy sources are required to achieve the future economic prosperity where shortage of fossil fuels will be a limiting factor and hamper the global economic growth. Therefore, interest in biofuel is increasing continuously. The best way of sustainable development is fossil fuel supplementation with biodiesel to reduce the fossil fuel demand. Biodiesel is a clean burning, ester-based, oxygenated fuel derived from natural and renewable sources. Till now, majority of the people have worked on the biodiesel derived from edible oil. Instead of using edible oil, non-edible oil needs to be explored as feedstock for biofuel because half of the world's population is unable to afford the food oil as feedstock for fuel production. Looking at the significance of biodiesel and the resources of biofuel, in this paper, a comparative exhaustive study has been reported with for three important plants, namely Jatropha curcas, Pongemia pinnata and Balanites aegyptiaca. These plants were selected based on their biodiesel potential, availability, cultivation practices and general information available. The present study involves scientometric publications, comparison of fatty acid composition and biodiesel parameters. We have also compared climatic conditions for the growth of the plants, economic feasibility of biodiesel production and other ecological services. The study paves a way for sustainable solution to policy makers and foresters looking for selection of plant species as bioenergy resource.

Tree legumes as feedstock for sustainable biofuel production: Opportunities and challenges.

Concerns about future fossil fuel supplies and the environmental effects of their consumption have prompted the search for alternative sources of liquid fuels, specifically biofuels. However, it is important that the sources of such biofuel have minimal impact on global food supplies, land use, and commodity prices. Many legume trees can be grown on so-called marginal land with beneficial effects to the environment through their symbiotic interaction with "Rhizobia" and the associated process of root nodule development and biological nitrogen fixation. Once established legume trees can live for many years and some produce an annual yield of oil-rich seeds. For example, the tropical and sub-tropical legume tree Pongamia pinnata produces large seeds (∼1.5-2g) that contain about 40% oil, the quality and composition of which is regarded as highly desirable for sustainable biofuel production. Here we consider the benefits of legume trees as future energy crops, particularly in relation to their impact on nitrogen inputs and the net energy balance for biofuel production, and also ways in which these as yet fully domesticated species may be further improved for optimal use as biofuel feedstock.