Processing Subproducts

To help the local economy, Gotaverde promotes the estraction of the oil from edible seeds and sell it locallyor in case of better offer in the national market if this would not be possible, to the external markets.

Grain concetrate.

The press cake after the extraction of the oils from edeible plants (soy, sunflower,..) is an excellent source of proteins for the grain concentrate industry for animals. Since Yoro is a cattle region, there is a very high local demand for balanced foods for the animals. Until now this demand was covered mainly by two companies outside the region (San Pedro Sula)

Equipos para a la fabricación de concentrados. A la izquierda: el gerente de BYSA, Carlos Rodríguez

Secadora de granos.                                              Vista sobre las instalaciones de COOPACYL

La torta de higuerilla y jatropha es tóxico y por lo tanto no apto para consumo animal o humano. Los principales agentes toxicos son lectin (curcin) y ésteres forbólicos.  Existen investigaciones www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=SP03010.pdf sobre la detoxificación de la torta a través de su exposición a altas temperaturas y quimicos (NaOH y NaOCl), pero hasta el momento no se ha logrado eliminar 100% de los componentes tóxicos. La extracción de aceite con 80-90% de ethanol o methanol también ha dado resultados animadores de detoxificación.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.1.1     Organic Fertilizer

As mentioned in the “livestock concentrate” sub-component, Castor bean cake and Jatropha cake are both toxic and unfit for animal consumption. However, these cakes contain valuable nutrients which can be used in the production of organic fertilizers. Fertilizers produced from Castor bean cake and Jatropha cake shall be used in cultivating both food crops and oleaginous plants.

Research has shown that the use of only chemical fertilizers as a source of nutrients has a limited effect on plant growth, particularly in regions with heavy rainfall. The reason is that; fertilizers which contain nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) tend to lose their nutrients very quickly, especially during the rainy season, due to the high solubility of these fertilizers in water. Organic fertilizers are capable of reducing this tendency by supplying nutrients over a longer period of time.

According to different studies carried out, the content of major nutrients in the Jatropha cake varies. A recent study (link to http://www.fact fuels.org/media_en/Jatropha_presscake_as_fertilizer  ) in India identified the following chemical composition of Jatropha cake:

Nitrogen (N) 3-4.5%
Phosphorus (P2O5) 0.65-1.2%
Potassium (K2O) 0.8-1.4%
Micronutrients: 0.2-0.35%
 Iron (Fe): 800-1000 mg / kg?
 Manganese (Mn) 300-500 mg / kg?
 Zinc (Zn): 30-50 mg / kg?
 Covers (Cu): 18-25 mg / kg?

According to the same studies (http://www.fact-fuels.org/media_en/Jatropha_presscake_as_fertilizer), the application of 3 per ha TM cake (which practically means complete recycling) results in a 100%  increase in the production of Jatropha seeds, compared to a non-fertilized plot.

The following table (from another source) compares the contents of N / P / K of Jatropha cake with other common organic fertilizers:

Fuente: http://www.frienvis.nic.in/jatropha.htm 

It can be noticed that, when compared with chicken droppings- a source of organic fertilizer commonly used in Honduras, Jatropha cake has a high content in N, and a lower content in P and K

Jatropha oil can also be used as an insecticide.

Gota Verde is expected to obtain the first results of experiments carried out on the use of Castor bean cake and Jatropha cake as fertilizer in the agricultural year, 2009-2010.

Relevant literature:
Patiola, J.S. et al. (2007): "Jatropha press cake as fertilizer."
 http://www.fact-fuels.org/media_en/Jatropha_presscake_as_fertilizer

Biogas

Before the Castor bean and Jatropha cake is used as an organic fertilizer, it can be used firstly in an anaerobic processor (without air).
This process involves the decomposition of the cake by bacteria, which results in the release of a gaseous mixture: methane (65%) and CO2 (35%).
This mixture is commonly known as biogas. The oil which remains in the cake after pressing attracts bacteria, making it an excellent input for biogas production.
 

Example of an industrial biodigestor industrial in El Progreso, Honduras

Biogas is used as a fuel for gas engines or adapted conventional engines. The gas can also be used directly in heating processes. The Gota Verde project envisages the use of biogas in producing its own electricity needed to run BYSA`s processing plant. The first experiments for the production of biogas from Jatropha and Castor bean cake, took place in 2008. The generation of electric power starts in 2009. As from 2011 the processing plant shall be self-sufficient and shall negotiate for the sale of electricity to the national grid.

The decomposed material that remains after the process of anaerobic digestion contains the same NPK and micro nutrients found in compost. By the process of decomposition, the nutrients are easily absorbed by plants.

This component is currently under study.

Relevant literature:
Adriaans, T _ Visser, J. (2006): "Anaerobic digestion of Jatropha press cake". 
http://www.fact-fuels.org/media_en/Final_report_digestion_jatropha_press... 28Ingenia_0656521% 29%-R02