Re: vegetable oil for running diesel engines

[Keith Addison <keith@journeytoforever.org>]

Thanks for the cohune info, Peter.

Do you know about this one?
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Copaifera_langsdorfii.html
Copaifera langsdorfii

That the oleoresin called copaiba could be obtained by incising the 
trunk was first reported in England in 1625, in a work published by 
Purchas, "...a single tree is said to yield about 40 litres." 
(Grieve, 1931, reprinted 1974). Quoting nobel-laureate Calvin, Maugh 
says (1979), "Natives ... drill a 5 centimeter hole into the 1-meter 
thick trunk and put a bung into it. Every 6 months or so, they remove 
the bung and collect 15 to 20 liters of the hydrocarbon. Since there 
are few Rabbit diesels in the jungle, the natives use the hydrocarbon 
as an emollient and for other nonenergy-related purposes. But tests 
have shown, he says, that the liquid can be placed directly in the 
fuel tank of a diesel-powered car."

I keep trying to find out more about it, no luck so far.

I think there are a great many such plants and trees with energy 
potential, very few seem to have been investigated thoroughly. My 
choice would always be a crop that local people knew and were used 
to, even if only as a weed. That some other plant might have higher 
yields isn't nearly so important as what fits best.

A Paraguayan farmer wrote to me asking for advice on energy crops, 
and complaining about the local weeds - which turned out to be a 
species of euphorbia that's also known as the "Petroleum plant", 
Euphorbia lathyris, which produces "a hydrocarbon substance very much 
like gasoline".

Best

Keith Addison


>Dear Listers;
>
>Simply reminding --
>
>In the original contribution in regards to this subject --
>
>I was suggesting that using tree oil to fuel a very small diesel for micro
>electrical power needs is hard to beat.
>
>Granted -- running a full scale power plant would be "wasteful".
>
>Of further interest --
>
>Jatropha is native to the Yucatan -- this same area I write from.
>
>Processing is extremely labor intensive. Even more so than Cohune. So many
>small "seed" to harvest for any quantity of oil.
>
>In densely populated areas -- anything that makes "shade" has to be
>productive.
>
>The oil produced to shade created ratio of jatropha is not so good. The
>rest of the plant is of no great value.
>
>We must always consider the efficiency of conversion in regards to
>available land -- sunlight -- and product.
>
>I believe when it comes to tree oils -- India is quite advanced in this
>aspect.
>
>Their palm oil "plantations" being extremely productive.
>
>The "trash" left after oil extraction from coconut is of high protein and a
>"food". Both for humans and livestock.
>
>Jatropha yields no such bounty. Palm "trash" is a more difficult "food" as
>well.
>
>Cohune palm nut -- another local species to this area has never existed in
>plantations -- only wild.
>
>But the "trash" from cohune nut oil extraction is quite nutritious. And
>from observing wild yields -- I am prepared to believe that plantations of
>such would exceed yields from present palm plantations.
>
>Curious about Cohune??
>
>"The nuts of the Cohune Palm can be a source of oil, the meat pounded into
>flour, and the husks burned to make charcoal.  The fronds are used to make
>thatched roofs."
>
>Here are a few urls:
>
>http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/Ficha%20Attale
>a%20cohune.htm
>
>http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0043e/X0043E06.htm
>
>Discusses 3 "oils" -- cohune is the last -- so read through well.
>
>http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0043e/X0043E06.htm
>
>Good picture of "cluster"
>
>http://www.caske2000.org/ngo/survival/cohunepalm.htm
>
>Importance to local indigenous people here still living "stone-age"
>
>http://www.floridata.com/ref/A/atta_coh.cfm
>
>http://www.indiana.edu/~wanthro/sust.htm
>
>Interesting "paper" on "sustainable-development" for this area that has
>info on cohune nut.
>
>***********************
>
>Cohune palm appears to be totally disease resistant. Probably would plant
>in India/Africa as well.
>
>I never could understand how "Janus" could go crazy over jatropha yet miss
>Cohune.
>
>But then -- always beware when dealing with "experts" from modern
>industrialized nations!
>
>Cohune is a bounty for food -- oil -- construction material and very high
>quality charcoal.
>
>So I feel it is proper to suggest utilizing the oil here for "diesels" --
>as at present -- 99.9 percent of this fine material lays abandoned -- and
>eventually decomposing -- all about our plentiful jungles here.
>
>Granted -- this is not the situation in India.
>
>I am trying to encourage a few farmers here to try small plantations. But
>it takes 5 to 7 years to know.
>
>Still -- though "Janus" was not interested -- surely -- India should be!
>
>Peter / Belize


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