Moringa oleifera: a promising agricultural crop and of social inclusion for Brazil and semi-arid regions for the production of energetic biomass (biodiesel and briquettes)

Abstract

This study describes properties of biomasses of Moringa oleifera Lamarck for energetic applications of production of biodiesel and briquettes. The seeds collected of the mature pods were the initial biomasses used of this plant. The seeds were separated into husks and oilseed grains, from which the oils were extracted by mechanical pressing and by solvent extraction. The crude oil mixed (of pressing and by solvent) was degummed, neutralized, washed, dried and characterized. The purified oil was converted into methyl biodiesel in homogeneous alkaline transesterification, which was purified and characterized. The residual peels and pies had their calorific powers measured and compared with classic agricultural residues: firewood, sugarcane bagasse and coconut husks. Moringa culture was compared to soybeans in agricultural and biodiesel production perspectives. The analytical results show that the biomasses of the moringa are favorable as renewable biofuels like biodiesel or briquettes due to the good calorific power and simple and accessible productive technology. The production of briquettes starting from the biomasses of the moringa would be recommended with the uses of the pod husks, seed peels and pies (cakes) of extraction of the oil. The agricultural management and the simple productive technologies applied to the moringa are favorable for social inclusion by enabling family agriculture.

COMPOSTOS BIOATIVOS E ATIVIDADES FARMACOLÓGICAS DAS FOLHAS DE Moringa oleifera Lamarck

“…Diante disto, é relevante o uso de ferramentas para analisar o comportamento de compostos bioativos sob parâmetros que simulam as condições de digestão in vivo (MANACH et al, 2004;RIZVI, 2009;D'ARCHIVIO et al, 2010;BAHADORAN;MIRMIRAN;AZIZI, 2013). No entanto, esta temática extrapola o escopo desta revisão, sendo apresentado em pequena esfera, destacando-se apenas que os efeitos benéficos dos polifenóis para a saúde dependem tanto da ingestão, quanto da biodisponibilidade ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A Moringa oleifera é comumente conhecida como uma árvore milagrosa porque todas as suas partes apresentam multiaplicações, incluindo o uso tradicional não medicinal como alimentos medicinais e funcionais (ASHFAQ; BASRA; ASHFAQ, 2012), além ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ de ter a capacidade de purificar a água (KUMAR; GOPAL, 1999) e ser utilizada como planta ornamental (FAHEY, 2005;PEREIRA et al, 2017).…”

“…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Esta oleaginosa pode ser usada para produzir biomassa, forragem para animais, fertilizantes, biopesticida, nutrientes foliar, goma, suco clarificador de mel e açúcar de cana, celulose, tanino, para curtir couros, entre outros (FUGLIE, 1999;GOPAL, 1999). As folhas são comumente trituradas e usadas como agentes de limpeza domésticos orgânicos ou como combustíveis gasosos (FUGLIE, 1999;GOPAL, 1999;FAHEY, 2005;PEREIRA et al, 2017) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Extratos em solventes orgânicos, como metanol e acetona, mostraram atividades antioxidantes (SIDDHURAJU;BECKER, 2003;ATAWODI et al, 2010;MOYO;MASIKA;MUCHENJE, 2012;OGBUNUGAFOR et al, 2012;VONGSAK;SITHISARN;GRITSANAPAN, 2013;CHAROENSIN, 2014). Somado a isto, pode ser aplicado como conservante natural para gordura (PATEL; GAMI; PATEL, 2010).…”

Miracle Tree Moringa oleifera: Status of the Genetic Diversity, Breeding, In Vitro Propagation, and a Cogent Source of Commercial Functional Food and Non-Food Products

“…Since high oleic acid MO seed oil has a low melting point, lacks plasticity, and is not suitable for food products, its enzymatic interesterification with palm kernel oil and palm stearin is a viable option for yielding harder fat stocks with desirable physical and nutritional properties. The oil is conventionally extracted from the seeds by either mechanical pressing or solvent extraction at 40 • C with a specific mass in the range of 910-970 kg.m 3 [106]. The extractive yield by the solvent (~35-41%) is relatively higher compared with the mechanical pressing (~26%).…”

Optimization of biodiesel production from Moringa oleifera seeds oil in the presence of nano-MgO using Taguchi method

“…In recent years, the use of low-cost sources of the plant for biodiesel production has been increasing. One of these plants is Moringa oleifera tree [10]. The plant of M. oleifera is an indigenous, available, and inexpensive tree.…”

“…Moringa oleifera is one of the species of the Moringaceae family which is found in many tropical and subtropical regions worldwide such as Africa, South Asia, South America, Himalaya region, India, Pakistan, the Pacific, and Caribbean Islands [10], and its seeds consist of 38-42% oil [11].…”