Airbridge Greens

Biodiesel is produced from feed stocks such as oilseeds, vegetable oils, used cooking oils, animal tallow, acid oils, fish oils.

We produce highly purified commercial Biodiesel (B100) at our own Biodiesel plant at Domjur, Howrah, West Bengal. It can be used alone or mixed in any ratio with petroleum diesel. The most common blend is B20 (a mix of 20% Biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel).

Biodiesel is produced from feed stocks such as oilseeds, vegetable oils, used cooking oils, animal tallow, acid oils, fish oils.

We produce highly purified commercial Biodiesel (B100) at our own Biodiesel plant at Domjur, Howrah, West Bengal. It can be used alone or mixed in any ratio with petroleum diesel. The most common blend is B20 (a mix of 20% Biodiesel with 80% petroleum diesel).

Organic fertilizers or Biofertilizers can be identified as plant extracts and Biomanures. It can be further defined as urban wastes compost, various microbial mixtures with unidentified constituents, manures and chemical fertilizer formulations supplemented with organic compounds to improve the soil fertility. We offer a wide range of organic fertilizers namely, vermicompost, organic manure etc.

Jatropha curcas originated in Central America and was introduced in India by the Portuguese. It adapted well to Indian conditions, including semiarid marginal sites. It can withstand drought by shedding most of its leaves to reduce transpiration loss. The fallen leaves add to the organic matter in the soil and improve its fertility.

It is distributed throughout West Bengal, it grows in wide range of soils (even gravelly, sandy, saline and rocky soils) and climatic conditions (from high temperatures to light frost). However, it cannot be grown on slopes exceeding 300, in highly alkaline soils (pH exceeding 9) or where the temperature falls below freezing point. It cannot withstand extended water logging.

It is a soft wooded shrub or small tree with whitish watery latex. Animals do not browse it. Seed yield varies from 2-3 Kg/ plant to 4-6 Kg/plant. The oil content in seed varies from 25 to 48%. On an average 3.28 kg of seed gives one liter of oil.

It has a low gestation period (2 years) for seed production compared to other non-edible oil bearing plants. Some varieties start yielding from first year onwards but the maximum production is reached in 3-5 years. The productive age of Jatropha is about 40 years.

Usage

1. Processed Jatropha oil (by transesterification) can be used as Biodiesel. It may be mixed with the petroleum diesel up to 20% and used in engines without having to make any change in them.
2. An important byproduct of processing of Jatropha oil for the production of Biodiesel by transesterification is glycerin. The sale of glycerin would reduce the cost of Biodiesel and make its use economically viable.
3. Jatropha seed cake is used as an organic fertilizer and biopesticide. De-oiled seed cake has a crude protein content of between 53% – 60% and a favorable amino acid profile. However, the seed cake is toxic due to phorbol esters, trypsin inhibitors, etc. It can provide a highly nutritious feed material after detoxification.
4. The cultivation of Jatropha would generate employment on a large scale in rural areas almost round the year including the lean seasons. The oil may be extracted in mobile oil presses in a decentralized manner.
5. Straight Jatropha oil can be used for purposes of lighting and lubrication.
6. Unrefined Jatropha oil (seed oil) is used for manufacturing candles, soaps, varnishes and lubricants.
7. Leaf and latex of Jatropha are used to treat wounds, ulcers, piles and skin diseases and as pest repellant. Jatropha is used in ayurvedic preparations for treatment of toothaches, gingivitis, skin infections and arthritis. Juice of the plant and oil are used as a drastic purgative. In santhal medicine, the plant is used in sores, dropsy, carbuncles, convulsions, cramps, neuralgia, pleurisy and pneumonia.
8. Latex dries up to a bright reddish brown color which is used as marking ink.
9. Stem bark contains tannins and produces dark blue dye which is used to dye cloth, fishing nets and lines.

 

There 16 elements that are considered necessary for plant growth. The basic elements namely carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are obtained from air and water. There are six ‘macro’ nutrients namely Nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P), Potassium(K), Calcium(Ca), Magnesium(Mg) and Sulfur(S) which are absorbed in large amounts and then there are seven ‘micro’ nutrients namely iron(Fe), Manganese(Mn), Boron(B), Zinc(Zn), Copper(Cu), Molybdenum(Mo) and Chlorine(Cl) are absorbed in small amounts from the soil or a hydroponics solution. The ratio of the nutrients available is always important as an excess of one nutrient may result in a deficiency of another element. So under intensive production systems, the growth nutrients or elements of which the soil has the smallest reserve in relation to the plant requirement are the first require replenishment.