PRODUCTION OF PETROLEUM-HYDROCARBONS, FERMENTABLE SUGARS AND ETHANOL FROM TABERNAEMONTANA-DIVARICATA - A NEW FUEL CROP AND RENEWABLE RESOURCE OF ENERGY
Bk. Behera et al., PRODUCTION OF PETROLEUM-HYDROCARBONS, FERMENTABLE SUGARS AND ETHANOL FROM TABERNAEMONTANA-DIVARICATA - A NEW FUEL CROP AND RENEWABLE RESOURCE OF ENERGY, Energy conversion and management, 36(4), 1995, pp. 281-288
Citations number
NO
Categorie Soggetti
Energy & Fuels",Mechanics,"Physics, Nuclear",Thermodynamics
The potential of Tabernaermontana divaricata (Linn.) Alston as a petro
crop and renewable source of energy was evaluated. The hexane extract
(HE) of the plant was rich in hydrocarbons. The yields of HE from old
leaves, roots, flowers and stems were 7.1, 6.2, 4.8 and 3.7% respectiv
ely. Methanol extractables (ME) varied from 12.6 to 52.3% and the maxi
mum yield was found in the case of stems. Results obtained through C-1
3 NMR spectral analysis showed an abundance of aliphatic over aromatic
hydrocarbons in the biocrude. The hydrocarbon production, i.e. hexane
and methanol extraction of T. divaricata was observed to be similar t
o 6.53 barrel/ha/yr and 32.4 barrel/ha/yr average biomass, respectivel
y. The hydrocarbon yield and heat value content of HE and ME of T. div
aricata were comparable to other petrocrops, as reported earlier. The
spent residue obtained after the recovery of biocrude can be processed
to get fermentable sugars and ethanol (a cleaner fuel). The fermentab
le sugars obtained after biohydrolysis were noticed to be about two fo
lds higher than the value obtained after mild acidic hydrolysis. Prese
nt studies have suggested that T. divaricata can be converted to petro
leum and ethanol, which can be exploited to produce gasohol fuel. The
economics of petrofarming would hinge on the proper management of this
renewable energy resource to get value added chemicals and fuels.