Study of Jatropha curcas and Calophyllum Inophyllum Oils for Potential Use As Biodiesel Fuel in Guam

Oils of Da’ok (Calophyllum inophyllum) and Jatropha (Jatropha curcas), two landscape plants in Guam, were evaluated as feedstock for their potential biodiesel production. Da’ok fruits were collected from three villages with different soil substrates. Jatropha fruits were collected at an Agricultural Experiment farm. Yield of da’ok oils was not affected by collection sites, but the drying time of nuts. Crude oils of da’ok and jatropha were sent to University of Alaska for converting to biodiesel and their chemical analysis. Chemical characteristics of crude oils were examined for: caloric contents (J/g), iodine value, peroxide value, moisture content, saponification value, and acid value. Composition analysis (C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and C18:2) was also performed for crude oil and biodiesel obtained. The study indicated that both oils were capable of producing high quality biodiesel, although da’ok oil required additional pre-treatment in order to prevent potential problems when being used as a biofuel. Biodiesels derived from nuts of both plants collected in Guam had very similar chemical composition, having nearly 50% methyl ester (C18:1) for jatropha and 40% for da’ok. This indicated that both biodiesels could be used independently or as a blend of two.