Life Sciences & Biotechnology

The Institute has developed a simple and cost-effective process for preparation of Biodiesel from the oil expelled from the seeds of Jatropha curcus. The seeds are crushed in mechanical screw type expeller. The oil cake produced on expelling oil is being tested for its application as manure and pesticides and encouraging results have been obtained. The oil is treated with alkali to reduce the free fatty acid (FAA) content and filtered. The soap cake produced is used for making washing soap. The glycerol produced is recovered. The biodiesel that is produced using the process meets all the norms of European specifications, EN 14214.