Does Biodiesel from Jatropha Curcas Represent a Sustainable Alternative Energy Source?

Isidro Ovando-Medina, Francisco Espinosa-García, Juan Núñez-Farfán and Miguel Salvador-Figueroa
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Isidro Ovando-Medina: Centro de Biociencias, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Carretera a Puerto Madero Km 2.0, Tapachula, 30700, Chiapas, Mexico
Francisco Espinosa-García: Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
Juan Núñez-Farfán: Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México, D.F., Mexico
Miguel Salvador-Figueroa: Centro de Biociencias, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Carretera a Puerto Madero Km 2.0, Tapachula, 30700, Chiapas, Mexico

Sustainability, 2009, vol. 1, issue 4, 1-7

Abstract: Various government agencies around the world have proposed vegetable oils and their conversion to biodiesel as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Due to its adaptability to marginal soils and environments, the cultivation of Jatropha curcas is frequently mentioned as the best option for producing biodiesel. In the present work the current situation of proven and potential reserves of fossil fuel, and the production and consumption model for the same are analyzed, in order to later review the sustainability of the production process which begins with the cultivation of J. curcas , and culminates with the consumption of biodiesel. A review of the following topics is proposed in order to improve the sustainability of the process: areas destined for cultivation, use of external (chemical) inputs in cultivation, processes for converting the vegetable oil to biodiesel, and, above all, the location for ultimate consumption of the biofuel.

Keywords: biofuel; Jatropha curcas; petroleum (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:1:y:2009:i:4:p:1035-1041:d:6197

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