title: The use of underwater high-voltage discharges to improve the efficiency of Jatropha curcas L. biodiesel production.
abstract: Underwater high-voltage discharges (3.5 kV) resulting in 4.9 kJ shock waves (50-60 MPa) were studied at the laboratory scale as a Jatropha curcas L. seed disintegration method. Grinding and macerating in an excess of methanol (3.5:1) was advantageous because methanol acts both as a liquid carrier for the pressure shock waves and as a solvent that increases the efficiency of oil extraction while remaining usable for esterification. The influence of the number of shock waves and the intensity of methanol maceration on the heat values of the pressed cake are stated in detail. Soxhlet extraction demonstrated that a greater than 94% oil extraction was achieved. The increased disintegration of vacuoles rich in oil was documented by surface area analysis, mineralization kinetics analysis, and electron microscopy. The working volumes were small, and the proportion of energy inadequate compared to the yields released; however, much can be improved by upgrading the process.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maroušek
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Higa
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suwa
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komiya
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawamitsu
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D004560:Electricity; D031286:Jatropha / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D014867:Water