The global energy crisis has raises demand for biofuel prices. It has driven the world to enhance environmentally-friendly renewable-energy (biofuel) production. Oil from the seeds of Calophyllum inophyllum (nyamplung) which can be harvested up to 50 years, is one of such potential biofuel source. Methods for biofuel production from nyamplung seeds have been developed at an industrial scale by cooperative in Cilacap (Java) and Energy Self-Sufficient Villages (Desa Mandiri Energi) in Banyuwangi, Purworejo, Kebumen, Ujung Kulon (Java) and Selayar (South Sulawesi). However, there is only a limited-information available on biofuel potential, in term of productivity and quality, from nyamplung populations. This paper reports the variations in biofuel potential among 12 populations in Indonesia (6 from Java, 6 outside Java). The oil was extracted using a combination of vertical hot press (VHP) and screw press expeller (SPE) methods, followed by degumming to make refined oil, and esterification-transesterification to turn it into biodiesel. The result show great variation of biofuel content among the population. Oil production percentage varies from 37-48.5% (VHP) and 50-58% (SPE) crude oil, 36-48% (VHP) and 40-53% (SPE) refined oil, and 17-33% (SPE) for biodiesel. Seed resin content is responsible for most of the variation after degumming. DNA analysis shows genetic variation among populations ranges from intermediate within Java to high ouside Java and is intermediate within populations. Information about biofuel content and potential of populations and genetic variation between and within population are important factors for establishment of geneticallyimproved seed-sources for biofuel production from nyamplung.Keywords: Biofuel, crude oil, genetic-variation, nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum) ABSTRAKKrisis energi mendorong penduduk dunia untuk mengalihkan sumber energinya ke energi terbarukan (biofuel) yang lebih ramah lingkungan. Nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum) sebagai salah satu jenis tanaman hutan mempunyai potensi sebagai bahan baku biofuel dari bijinya dan dapat berproduksi sampai dengan umur 50 tahun. Secara teknis pemanfaatan biji nyamplung sebagai biofuel tidak menjadi masalah dan sudah mulai dikembangkan dalam skala industri oleh Koperasi Jarak Lestari di Cilacap (Jawa Tengah) dan melalui program Desa Mandiri Energi (DME) berbasis nyamplung di Banyuwangi (Jawa Timur), Purworejo dan Kebumen (Jawa Tengah), Ujung Kulon (Banten), dan Selayar (Sulawesi Selatan). Namun demikian, ketersediaan dan kualitas bahan baku dari biji nyamplung menjadi kendala utama karena belum tersedia informasi produktivitas minyak yang optimal. Tulisan ini menyajikan variasi potensi biofuel nyamplung dari 12 (dua belas) populasi nyamplung di Indonesia (6 populasi di Jawa dan 6 populasi di luar Jawa) untuk membangun sumber benih unggul nyamplung. Rendemen minyak dihasilkan dengan menggunakan kombinasi alat Vertical Hot Press (VHP) dan Screw Press Expeller (SPE) dilanjutkan dengan proses degumming untuk menghasilkan refined o...

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre is a fast-growing, leguminous and multipurpose tree species. It grows on degraded and marginal land in South and Southeast Asia. It produces non-edible seeds, the oil of which is a potential biofuel. In Indonesia, pongamia is widely found on all islands, but mostly to the west of the Wallace Line, in Banten, East Java, South Sumatra and West Java provinces. The economic viability of pongamia depends on the number of seeds per tree and the oil content of seeds. Studies on pongamia in Indonesia, with oil extracted using a simple mechanical expeller press, revealed that trees growing in Ujung Kulon National Park in Banten Province produce seeds with a higher oil content (15.59%) than those growing in the provinces of East and West Java. In this study, the oil content of 48 individual trees from Ujung Kulon National Park were analysed using a solvent extraction method. As a control, bulk seed was extracted using two different methods: 1) a Fabricant mechanical screw expeller press; and 2) solvent extraction. The results showed highly significant variance in oil content. Oil production of individual trees processed using the solvent extraction method reached 44% (varying from 26.61% to 44.68%), substantially higher than those using mechanical pressing at only 15% to 19%. Findings show that genetic factors, extraction machines and method of extraction can all influence pongamia oil production. The quality and genetic diversity of the seed source is also extremely important for industrial plantation forest programmes for bioenergy and land restoration in Indonesia.

Indonesia has 14 million ha of degraded and marginal land, which provides very few benefits for human wellbeing or biodiversity. This degraded land may require restoration. The leguminous tree Pongamia pinnata syn. Milettia pinnata (pongamia) has potential for producing biofuel while simultaneously restoring degraded land. However, there is limited information on this potential for consideration. This paper aims to address the scientific knowledge gap on pongamia by exploring its potential as a biofuel and for restoring degraded land in Indonesia. We applied a literature review to collect relevant information of pongamia, which we analyzed through narrative qualitative and narrative comparative methods with careful compilation and scientific interpretation of retrieved information. The review revealed that pongamia occurs naturally across Indonesia, in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku. It can grow to a height of 15–20 m and thrive in a range of harsh environmental conditions. Its seeds can generate up to 40% crude pongamia oil by weight. It is a nitrogen-fixing tree that can help restore degraded land and improve soil properties. Pongamia also provides wood, fodder, medicine, fertilizer and biogas. As a multipurpose species, pongamia holds great potential for combating Indonesia’s energy demand and restoring much of the degraded land. However, the potential competition for land and for raw material with other biomass uses must be carefully managed.

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