Ag-Oil To Use Jatropha and Algae in New State-of-the-Art Biodiesel Refinery

Biofuel Energy
By Jace Shoemaker
July 8, 2009

Plans for a state-of-the-art biodiesel refinery are underway in Florida. Ag-Oil is building a pilot-scale non-food oilseed biodiesel production facility that will convert Jatropha seeds, algae and other byproducts into biodiesel fuel.

Ag-Oil is collaborating with the University of Florida, Southern Illinois University, Argonne National Laboratory and the United Environment and Energy on the project.

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) is a seed-producing shrub or tree containing nonedible oil. The oil from the seed is a viable alternative to petroleum otherwise used in the production of diesel fuel. According to Ag-Oil’s CEO Teri Gevinson, 20 acres of Jatropha have already been planted on the existing plantation. Along with the refinery, a commercial scale oilseed processing plant will be located on 103 acres of land, west of Delray Beach. An annual yield of 15 million gallons of biodiesel is possible with this project.

Advantages of Jatropha:
-Jatropha is a hardy plant able to withstand harsh conditions
-As a shrub or small tree, it produces seeds containing nonedible oil
-Because of its small size, it is an ideal crop for smaller farms
-Often grown as a living fence, Jatropha protects fields and gardens from animals
-Besides its use as seed oil, other parts of the plant can also be utilized. Bark extract, leaf and root are used for medicinal purposes. Jatropha is also used for making candles and soap
-Jatropha has the potential to create a positive impact on farmers in remote and rural areas, stimulating rural economic development
-Depending on the environment, the plant can produce all year

Harvesting of Jatropha can be a labor-intensive process. But Delray Beach area farmers will use new technology to mechanically harvest the crop, making it a viable option for biodiesel production. Ag-Oil is the recipient of a $2.5 million state renewable energy grant. The project is expected to create 128 jobs as well as hundreds of indirect jobs annually and should be operational sometime in 2011.