Removal and Degradation of Phorbol Esters during Pre‐treatment and Transesterification of Jatropha curcas Oil

Abstract

Phorbol esters present in Jatropha curcas oil are toxic when consumed and are co-carcinogens. These could be a potential constraint in the widespread acceptance of Jatropha oil as a source of biodiesel. Phorbol esters were quantified in the fractions obtained at different stages of oil pre-treatment and biodiesel production. During degumming some phorbol esters were removed in the acid gums and wash water. This implies that the use of these acid gums in animal feed is not possible and care should be taken when disposing the wash water into the environment. Silica treatment did not decrease the phorbol esters, while stripping/deodorization at 260°C at 3 mbar pressure with 1% steam injection completely degraded phorbol esters. Phorbol esters were not detected in stripped oil, fatty acid distillate, transesterified oil (biodiesel) and glycerine. The presence of possibly toxic phorbol ester degradation products in these fractions could not be ruled out.

Effect of roasting temperature on the physicochemical properties of Jatropha curcas Kernel oil extracted with cold hexane and hot water

“…For example, curcin, a toxicant commonly found in J. curcas seed, is a ribosome inactivating protein which like most proteins could be denatured or experience loss of function at high temperatures. Also, high temperature of 260°C and 3 mbar has been reported to completely degrade phorbol esters present in J. curcas (Makkar et al, 2009).…”

Production of Sophorolipids from Non-edible Jatropha Oil by Stamerella bombicola NBRC 10243 and Evaluation of their Interfacial Properties

“…PE amounts in the culture medium were monitored and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography HPLC 31 . Aliquots were loaded into an HPLC system equipped with the reversed-phase column LiChrospher 100 RP-18 5 μm, 250 4 mm id, Merck and separated at 25 at a flow rate of 1.3 mL/min using an acetonitrile-water gradient elution buffer.…”

Allergens and Toxins from Oleaginous Plants: Problems and Solutions

“…The rats fed with treated meals exhibited delayed mortality compared to untreated meal-fed rats. The phorbol ester content was analysed in fractions obtained at different stages of oil pretreatment and biodiesel production from the physic nut by Makkar et al (2009). Makkar et al observed that the phorbol esters were destroyed by the stripping process during biodiesel production.…”