Genotype and age of industrial plant Jatropha curcas L. affect physico-chemical properties of seed oil

Jatropha curcas, has been established as a plant whose seeds contain relatively high percentage of oil that is suitable for biodiesel production, among other industrial applications. Seed properties J. curcas may vary depending on soils, age plant, genotype the and agro-climatic conditions specific geographical region. Studies under such have not yet conducted. The present study was aimed at investigating effects physicochemical its seed oil. extracted using n-hexane solvent in Soxhlet extraction apparatus from kernel collected different genotypes plants ages. Oil content ranged 49.78–53.75% (w/w) samples genetic materials age. showed very little but significant differences density gravity samples. highest free fatty acid (FAA) produced by 3-year-old (7.78%), 7- 10-year-old gave lowest FAA (1.26 1.31%, respectively). 7-year-old iodine value (93.60 mg/g oil) (61.10 oil). Kernel (172.98 mg KOH/g) saponification 4-year-old Hybrid-3 maximum (209.97 KOH/g accessions difference (39.88–40.85 MJ/kg) heating values irrespective their On hand, cetane number varied 55.32 to 59.58 sources had effect physio-chemical Jatropha.