Jatropha curcas

The production of liquid biofuels has become an issue of concern in many developing countries, due mainly to the establishment of large-scale biofuel feedstock plantations. These plantations present potential socio-economic benefits, particularly in terms of agricultural employment, as well as risks. The spread of large-scale commercial production of biofuel crops in Ghana has raised concerns from civil society organizations, local communities and other parties. This paper draws on studies that have been conducted in Ghana to assess the socio-economic impact of large-scale production of biofuel crops, especially Jatropha, on the livelihoods of local communities and people in Ghana, focusing on land grabbing and alienation, impact on food production and security, and impact on employment and income generation. Even though the biofuel industry in Ghana is still in its early stages of development, the paper reveals that commercial biofuel production impacts significantly on the livelih...

Larvicidal activity of ethyl acetate, butanol, and petroleum ether extracts of five species of Euphorbiaceae plants, Jatropha curcas, Pedilanthus tithymaloides, Phyllanthus amarus, Euphorbia hirta, and Euphorbia tirucalli, were tested against the early fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L. and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say). The larval mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed low larvicidal effects; however, the highest larval mortality was found in petroleum ether extract. The LC50 value of petroleum ether extracts of J. curcas, P. tithymaloides, P. amarus, E. hirta, and E. tirucalli were 8.79, 55.26, 90.92, 272.36, and 4.25 ppm, respectively, against A. aegypti and 11.34, 76.61, 113.40, 424.94, and 5.52 ppm, respectively, against C quinquefasciatus. Of the various ratios tested, the petroleum ether extracts of J. curcas and E. tirucalli were observed to be more efficient than the other plant extracts. It is, therefore, suggested that E. tirucalli can be applied as an ideal potential larvicide against A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus. This is an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control of the dengue vector, A. aegypti, and the lymphatic filariasis vector, C. quinquefasciatus.

The current practice of Jhum cultivation (shifting cultivation) in eastern and north eastern regions of India is an extravagant and ruthless form of land use system. The evil effects of shifting cultivation are devastating and far-reaching in degrading the environment and ecology of these regions. The earlier 15–20 year cycle of shifting cultivation on a particular land has reduced to 2–3 years now and fallow land in jhum cultivation area is increased significantly. This has resulted in large-scale deforestation, soil and nutrient loss, and invasion by weeds and other unwanted species. The indigenous biodiversity has been affected by shifting cultivation to a large extent. Jatropha curcas, a beneficial biofuel crop, can be introduced in shifting cultivation areas as a suitable agroforestry crop for generating better income to the jhumias in moisture stress areas of Northeast region because it is not labour intensive and easy to cultivate. It can be grown either in monoculture or as intercrop with other species like Aswagandha, Asparagus, pulses and vegetables etc., during initial growth period. Jatropha can also be intercropped with coconut or arecanut. It suits for all types of soil and requires minimal care after plantation. Therefore, potentiality of growing Jatropha in agroforestry system as viable alternative to sustain economy and environmental need of the region is discussed.

Large-scale land acquisition in Africa has been the concern and the focus of growing global literature on land grabbing. The upswing in biofuel investments in Ghana led to large-scale land acquisitions by the private sector presided over by chiefs. This research investigates how chiefs, in playing their traditional roles in the acquisition of land
and as arbitrators, were, in most instances, the cause and the solution to the ensuing conflicts in the various communities. Data was collected through interviews, use of questionnaires and focus group discussions. Some of the conflict issues include loss of farmlands or other communal lands, disagreements on the land acquisition processes, the
quantum and mode of execution of compensation payments and the existence or contents of social responsibility agreements. Furthermore, the use of negotiation, mediation and courts by people in these communities relative to arbitration by chiefs is increasing. The
Government of Ghana needs to strengthen the public sector land institutions and put in place stronger and binding mechanisms for resolving disputes arising from large-scale acquisitions of land to cushion the effect of the weakening confidence in the chieftaincy institution.

Plant tissue culture and molecular biology techniques are powerful tools of biotechnology that can complement conventional breeding, expedite crop improvement and meet the demand for availability of uniform clones in large numbers. Jatropha curcas Linn., a non-edible, eco-friendly, non-toxic, biodegradable fuel-producing plant has attracted worldwide attention as an alternate sustainable energy source for the future. This review presents a consolidated account of biotechnological interventions made in J. curcas over the decades and focuses on contemporary information and trends of future research.

Propulsée par la crise énergétique, la production de jatropha, plante oléagineuse cultivée comme biocarburant, a bénéficié d’investissements massifs à l’échelle globale à partir de 2007. Cette expansion est due à la fois aux politiques énergétiques incitatives, au soutien économique des différents gouvernements et à la puissance du lobby industriel. L’objectif des pays non-producteurs de pétrole de réduire une partie de leur facture énergétique par la production des biocarburants se conjugue à l’intérêt des investisseurs nationaux et étrangers face aux nouvelles opportunités de profit que représente la compensation des émissions de carbone à travers les plantations de jatropha. Adoptant une perspective multiscalaire et une approche issue de l’écologie politique et de l’anthropologie du développement, l’étude de cas proposée dans cette thèse examine les rôles et les implications économiques et politiques des différents acteurs nationaux et transnationaux (État malien, institutions transnationales, secteur privé, organismes non gouvernementaux) associés à la promotion et à la production du jatropha comme culture énergétique au sud du Mali, tout en offrant une analyse critique des discours qu’ils produisent et de la configuration développementiste sur laquelle ils s’appuient. Le dispositif de gouvernance internationale de l’environnement, faisant appel à la fois aux stratégies discursives et aux pratiques normatives de la lutte aux changements climatiques, est examiné afin de comprendre comment il participe à la construction des politiques publiques en faveur des biocarburants en général et du jatropha en particulier. Les mécanismes politiques et économiques impliqués dans la mise en place de la filière jatropha sont également étudiés, à la lumière de leurs impacts sur les dynamiques socioéconomiques locales. En dernier lieu, cette thèse démontre comment, face à la tentative d’intégration « participative » et subventionnée des producteurs paysans contractuels à l’économie de marché, ces derniers, déçus par les faibles rendements et les revenus insignifiants associés à la culture du jatropha, opposent une résistance passive en abandonnant progressivement les plantations de jatropha ou en détournant les petites quantités récoltées au profit de la transformation domestique en savon par les femmes.

Mots clés : anthropologie, biocarburants, jatropha, agriculture, gouvernance environnementale, développement durable, écologie politique, finance carbone, Mali, Sahel, Afrique de l’Ouest. 

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Propelled by the energy crisis, the production of jatropha, an oilseed plant cultivated as a biofuel, has benefited from massive investments on a global scale since 2007. This expansion is due to both incentive energy policies, the economic support of various governments and the power of the industrial lobby. The objective of non-oil-producing countries to reduce part of their energy bill through biofuel production is combined with the interest of national and foreign investors in the new profit opportunities offered by offsetting carbon emissions through jatropha plantations.

Adopting a multiscalar perspective and an approach derived from political ecology and development anthropology, the case study proposed in this thesis examines the roles and economic and political implications of the various national and transnational actors (state of Mali, transnational institutions, private sector, non-governmental organizations) associated with the promotion and production of jatropha as an energy crop in southern Mali, while providing a critical analysis of the discourses they produce and the developmental configuration on which they rely. The international environmental governance mechanism, which draws on both discursive strategies and normative practices in the fight against climate change, is examined in order to understand how it participates in the construction of public policies in favour of biofuels in general and jatropha in particular. The political and economic mechanisms involved in the establishment of the jatropha sector are also studied in the light of their impacts on local socio-economic dynamics. Finally, this thesis demonstrates how, faced with the attempt to integrate contract farmers into the market economy in a "participatory" and subsidized manner, the latter, disappointed by the low yields and insignificant incomes associated with jatropha cultivation, are putting up passive resistance by gradually abandoning jatropha plantations or diverting the small quantities harvested in favour of domestic processing into soap by women.

Keywords : anthropology, biofuels, jatropha, agriculture, environmental governance, sustainable development, political ecology, carbon emission trading, Mali, Sahel, West Africa.

Biodiesel an alternative diesel fuel has been the focus of a considerable amount of recent research in the past decade. The aim of the present study is to investigate the corrosion behavior of brass, stainless steel and galvanized steel upon exposure to Jatropha biodiesel and its blends with diesel. Jatropha biodiesel was produced by trans-esterification reaction between Jatropha oil and methanol, using NaOH pellets as catalyst and the biodiesel properties were characterized. Corrosion rates of the metals were examined by static immersion test in the fuels, changes in fuel properties like acid value, density, peroxide value and iodine value due to exposure of the fuels to the metals were also examined and degradation of metal surface was characterized by visual inspection. The Jatropha biodiesel had a yield of 98.8%, Acid value of 0.4165 mg KOH/100g of fuel, Flash point of 136oC, Cetane number of 51, Iodine value of 98.525 g I2/100g of fuel and a density of 0.8760g/cm3. The corrosion rates of brass, galvanized steel and stainless steel in biodiesel were decreased in the order 0.6091 > 0.3435> 0.053 mil/year respectively. Among the metals investigated, brass is found to be least resistant to corrosion in Jatropha biodiesel followed by galvanized steel, and stainless steel. It was observed that by increasing the volume of biodiesel in biodiesel/diesel blend fuel, the corrosion rate of the metals rises, implying that biodiesel (B100) is more corrosive than diesel (B0). It was also observed that fuel properties like acid value and peroxide value increased with time of exposure of the fuels to the metals, while iodine value and density of fuels decreased with time of exposure of the fuel to the metals

A cost effective procedure was devised for efficient plant propagation of Jatropha curcus L. Direct and indirect in vitro
regeneration was witnessed by addition of plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations. Callus cultures were initiated
from CL, CNR, HC and RT explants on MS basal medium added with 2, 4-D, BAP and NAA in individual and
combined applications. Excellent growth of callus was obtained in all explants with supplementation of BAP (2.0
mg/L) along with NAA (2.0 mg/L), 2, 4-D (0.5 mg/L) being operative for callus induction in only HC explants. These
calli were tested for regeneration and shoot and root organogenesis was successfully induced respectively. Hypocotyl
callus generated 4.0 shoots under the influence of 0.5 mg/L IBA and 1.5 mg/L BAP while CL explant generated 3.0
shoots per callus with slight change in concentration of BAP in same PGRs mixture (0.5 mg/L IBA and 1.0 mg/L
BAP). Along callus mediated organogenic route of regeneration, direct organogenesis was achieved as well. In direct
shoot regeneration ten shoots were formed on CNR with 1.5 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L Kin. Incorporation of 0.25 mg/L
IAA to the medium containing1.5 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L Kin enhanced the regeneration percentage of shoots (11 per
CNR explants). Root initiation in micro-shoots was attained on MS medium (half-strength) added with 0.1 mg/L IBA.
The well-grown plantlets were shifted to peat moss substratum and maintained in field conditions after acclimatization.
This regeneration protocol may also support genetic improvement efforts in J. curcas.

in the last decades there are more attention of the seriousness of pollution of excessive use of fossil fuels, which causes a lot of environmental hazards , now there are direction to production of new types of bio-fuel less harmful to the environment.

The present study was planned to remediate the metalloid and metal contaminated soil by using non-edible and economic plant species Jatropha curcas L. The experiment was conducted on pots to improve the survival rate, metal tolerance and growth response of the plant on soil; having different concentrations of arsenic, chromium and zinc. The soil was amended with dairy sludge and bacterial inoculum (Azotobacter chroococcum) as biofertilizer. The results of the study showed that the bioaccumulation potential was increased with increase in metalloid and metal concentration in soil system. Application of dairy sludge significantly reduces the DTPA-extractable As, Cr and Zn concentration in soil. The application of organic amendment stabilizes the As, Cr and Zn and reduced their uptake in plant tissues.

After the successful implementation of B5, 5% palm (Elaeis guineensis) based biodiesel, in Malaysia on June 1, 2011, the Malaysian government is now looking to phase out B5 by replacing it with B10 or even a higher blending ratio. Being non-edible feedstock, jatropha (Jatropha curcas) can play a vital role along with the existing palm oil. This experiment was conducted in a four-cylinder diesel engine fuelled with B5, 10%, and 20% blends of palm (PB10 and PB20) and jatropha (JB10 and JB20) biodiesel and compared with fossil diesel at full load and in the speed range of 1000 to 4000 RPM. The brake power was decreased on average 2.3% to 10.7% while operating on 10% and 20% blends of palm and jatropha biodiesel. An average of 26.4% BSFC increment was observed for PB20 and JB20 blends. An average of 30.7% carbon monoxide (CO) and 25.8% hydrocarbon (HC) emission reductions were found for 20% blends. On average, the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission is decreased by 3.3% while operating on PB10 and PB20 blends, whereas it is increased by 3.0% while operating on JB10 and JB20 blends.

Colombia se ha consolidado como un importante productor de biodiesel a nivel suramericano, lo que hace necesario estudiar la viabilidad ambiental de este tipo de combustibles mediante herramientas como el Análisis del Ciclo de Vida, que establece cuantitativamente, impactos ambientales de cualquier proceso.  En esta investigación se analizó la producción de biodiesel de aceite vegetal usado, con el fin de evaluar su desempeño ambiental, en términos de diversas categorías de impacto. Han sido evaluadas diferentes categorías de impacto, tales como cambio climático y agotamiento del ozono. Siguiendo las recomendaciones de la normativa internacional existente para la evaluación del impacto del ciclo de vida, en este estudio se utilizó un método de evaluación de impacto que incluye diversas categorías de impacto. En el caso de cambio climático, se encontró que la etapa que genera mayor impacto ambiental es la transformación de aceite en biodiesel, dado lo intensivo en energía y materias ...

Termites especially Macrotermes spp are highly destructive polyphagous insect pests of crop plants (Sseremba et al., 2011). They damage seedlings, wood, fiber and other household cellulose based materials hence a menace to especially to the agricultural sector. To control these damaging and yield-limiting pests, various synthetic insecticides such as Imidacloprid have been recommended and extensively used (UNEP. 2000; Venkateswara et al., 2005). Unfortunately, such insecticides are costly, not environmentally friendly, non-biodegradable and not readily available to especially the rural communities. Furthermore, they are very toxic to even non-target organisms in the ecosystems especially when applied in concentration levels higher than the manufacturers' rates (Dennis, 1981; Pimental, 1995). In the bid to find alternative cheap; readily available; biodegradable and less toxic insecticides, some plant species such as Jatropha curcas, Capsicum spp and Azadirachta indica were discovered to contain insecticidal properties (Ssemaganda et al., 2011). However, in Uganda, very few people especially those in rural areas use these botanical extracts in the control of termites (Ssemaganda et al., 2011). This could mainly be due to the fact that no studies have been carried out to provide relevant and up-to-date information about their efficacy in the control of Macrotermes spp of termites. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of crude botanical extracts from Jatropha curcas, Capsicum spp and Azadirachta indica and a synthetic insecticide (imidacloprid) in the control of termites. In this study, Jatropha curcas seeds, Capsicum spp ripe fruits and Azadirachta indica leaves were used to obtain the crude extracts whose efficacy against Macrotermes spp was assessed. The used botanical plant materials and termites were collected from Nakasajja Village, Mukono District and the bushes around Kyambogo University, Kampala District using purposive sampling. They were later transported to the Biology Laboratory at the Department of Biological Sciences of Kyambogo University for bioassays. Each crude botanical extract was tested on Macrotermes spp at four (4) concentration levels 5%, 10%, 20% and 30% w/v. Imidacloprid was bought from an Agricultural shop in Kampala, Uganda. It was also tested on Macrotermes spp at four concentration levels 5%, 10%, 20% and 30% (V/v). Distilled water was used as the control for comparison. The design of the study was basically a completely randomized experimental design involving three replicates for each treatment concentration level. All the concentration levels of the botanical extracts were able to cause mortality of Macrotermes spp especially 20% and 30% of Jatropha curcas and Capsicum spp that caused the greatest mortality (100%). The synthetic insecticide (imidacloprid) also caused mortality of Macrotermes spp at all used concentration levels. However10%, 20% and 30% caused the greatest mortality (100%). At p= 5%, F= 0.989858 and Fcrit = 3.490295.The study demonstrated that all the three used crude botanical extracts possess termiticidal activity especially Jatropha curcas and Capsicum spp which caused 100% mortality at 20% and 30% concentration levels. The synthetic insecticide (Imidacloprid) also caused mortality of Macrotermes spp especially at 10%, 20% and 30% where the mortality was 100%. At p= 5%, F= 0.989858 and Fcrit = 3.490295 hence there was no significant difference in the in-vitro efficacy of the botanical extracts and imidacloprid in controlling termites.

Jatropha biodiesel is considered as one of the most prospective renewable energy sources of Malaysia in recent years. Hence, an investigation was conducted for the improvement of jatropha biodiesel–diesel blend with the addition of 5–10% n-butanol and diethyl ether by vol. which are commonly known as oxygenated cold starting additive. Engine tests were conducted at variable speed, ranging from 1000 rpm to
3000 rpm at constant 80 N m torque on a 4-cylinder turbocharged indirect injection diesel engine. Engine performance parameters like brake specific fuel consumption, brake specific energy consumption, brake thermal efficiency and engine emissions like carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide and smoke opacity were measured. Performance and exhaust emissions variation of the modified blends
from the baseline fuel (jatropha biodiesel–diesel blend) were compared for the assessment of the improvement quantitatively. In-cylinder pressure diagram of all the test fuels were acquired and the heat release rate analysis was conducted at different operating conditions to explore the features of combustion mechanism and correlate them with the performance and emission characteristics to acquire better understanding of the scenario. However, in a nut-shell, the investigation reveals the potential of n-butanol and diethyl ether to be used as the additive of jatropha biodiesel–diesel blend in the context of combustion, performance and emission characteristics.

A technique to produce biodiesel from crude Jatropha curcas seed oil (CJCO) having high free fatty acids (15%FFA) has been developed. The high FFA level of JCJO was reduced to less than 1% by a two-step pretreatment process. The first step was carried out with 0.60 w/w methanol-to-oil ratio in the presence of 1% w/w H(2)SO(4) as an acid catalyst in 1-h reaction at 50 degrees C. After the reaction, the mixture was allowed to settle for 2h and the methanol-water mixture separated at the top layer was removed. The second step was transesterified using 0.24 w/w methanol to oil and 1.4% w/w NaOH to oil as alkaline catalyst to produce biodiesel at 65 degrees C. The final yield for methyl esters of fatty acids was achieved ca. 90% in 2 h.

Clean emission profile, nontoxic, ease of use and huge dependence on foreign petroleum products made biodiesel become one of the fastest growing alternative fuels in the world. Biofuels hold promise but require major R&D efforts. The main concern with biodiesel fuel is its high price. One of the futures aims in biodiesel research is on the selection of inexpensive feedstock with high value-added by-products This study investigates about the performance of biodiesel based on jatropha and animal fat in blends with pure diesel in a VCR engine. Load test is conducted on various compression ratios ranging from 16.5 to 19 with pure and blended fuels. It's also intended to investigate the performance of fuel blend of diesel and mixture of biodiesels of different origins. Results showed that blend of biodiesel and biodiesel mixtures with diesel can give comparable performance with slight modification in compression ratio

La Jatropha curcas es una planta de gran interés para la generación de energía alternativa, debido a que se desarrolla bien en suelos de escasa fertilidad, crece rápidamente y produce unas semillas con elevado contenido de aceite durante varios años, por lo que presenta un potencial alto para la obtención de biodiesel. El presente trabajo explora el fruto de Jatropha curcas como materia prima para la producción de biodiesel mediante la reacción de transesterificación, este proceso genera ciertas emisiones que tienen efectos negativos sobre el medio ambiente. El objetivo principal es aplicar la metodología de Análisis de Ciclo de Vida a la producción de biodiesel a partir de Jatropha curcas y su uso en MCI para determinar el impacto ponderado que provoca al medio ambiente y el balance energético del proceso. La producción de biodiesel se simuló en Aspen Plus y el impacto medioambiental se calculó a través de una matriz de ponderación, obteniéndose como resultado un impacto total al ecosistema de 17,47%, valor que demuestra que este proceso es compatible con el medio ambiente, además el balance energético resultó ser de 1,3 MJ por cada MJ de energía fósil consumida, lo que indica que el proceso es renovable.

Current energy consumption indicates that fossil fuels are going to remain the dominant sources of primary energy, accounting for more than 80% of the global energy demand between 2005 and 2030, with developing countries contributing three-fourth of the global demand [1]. Coal represents a sizable upsurge of this world demand while oil and gas are trailing closely behind. Much of the prospects for reducing dependency on hydrocarbons is directed towards the transportation sector, especially in developing countries like India. In an effort of transitioning to clean energy sources in the transport sector, the Government of India has implemented the National Policy on Biofuels in 2009 that stipulates a 20% indicative blending targets for both ethanol and biodiesel by the year 2017 [2]. With the end of the experimental phase from 2010-2015, there is much debate on potential alternative non-edible feedstock for meeting the production of biodiesel. As energy-related CO2 emissions are likely to be 32% higher than 2013 by the year 2020 [3], tremendous efforts remain with Government to make a holistic view from both supply and demand perspective of the energy industry to better incentivize the deployment of renewables. This paper is opinionistic in context and seeks to address the questions relating to how India will reach the blending requirement of biodiesel with most of its arable land under cultivation and its growing population demand for food and energy? Can India successfully transit to biofuel energy in the transport sector and reduce its carbon emission that would allow sustainable growth? The study reveals that the current biofuel policy is skewed towards the supply side of biofuels; demand factors like consumption, and support and demonstration of renewable energy devices also play a significant role in promoting biofuels. Nevertheless, the growing consciousness for green energy supply – especially biofuels – could negate the adverse effects of coal-based power plants and fill the energy gap met through imports.

The growing demand for green world serves as one of the most significant challenges of modernization. Requirements like largest usage of energy for modern society as well as demand for friendly milieu create a deep concern in field of research. Biofuels are placed at the peak of the research arena for their underlying benefits as mentioned by multiple researches. Out of a number of vegetable oils, only a few are used commercially for biodiesel production. Due to various limitations of edible oil, non-edible oils are becoming a profitable choice. Till today, very little percentage of biodiesel is used successfully in engine. The research is still continuing for improving the biodiesel usage level. Recently, it is found that the blended biodiesel from more than one feedstock provides better performance in engine. This paper reviews the physicochemical properties of different biodiesel blends obtained from various feedstocks with a view to properly understand the fuel quality. Moreover, a short description of each feedstock is given along with graphical presentation of important properties for various blend percentages from BO to B100. Finally, mathematical model is formed for predicting various properties of biodiesel blend with the help of different research data by using polynomial curve fitting method. The results obtained from a number of literature based on this work shows that the heating value of biodiesel is about 11% lower than diesel except coconut (14.5% lower) whereas kinematic viscosity is in the range of 4-5.4 mm(2)/s. Flash point of all biodiesels are more than 150 degrees C, except neem and coconut. Cold flow properties of calophyllum, palm, jatropha, moringa are inferior to others. This would help to determine important properties of biodiesel blend for any percentage of biodiesel and to select the proper feedstock for better performance. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0196890415000473/1-s2.0-S0196890415000473-main.pdf?_tid=dd54ded2-f3a1-11e4-a79e-00000aacb362&acdnat=1430883905_c992a22816a8123b724ea782afcdddca

Phytochemical screening (saponins, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and glycosides) of four medicinal plant seeds (Jatropha curcas, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba), Moringa oleifera and Datura metel) extracted by aqueous, ethanol and Folch solvents, were examined for their antimicrobial activity against three types of plant pathogenic fungi namely; Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani, in addition to four types of bacteria, namely; Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Ralstonia solanacearum and Pesudomonas aeruginosa using disc diffusion paper. Results revealed that different concentrations of aqueous extracts were more effective against bacterial activity compared to fungal activity, except for D. metel aqueous extract which showed no antifungal effect and very weak effect on only two of the tested bacteria. B. cereus was more sensitive to J. curcas aqueous extract, while P. aeruginosa was more sensitive to S. chinensis and M. oleifera aqueous extracts. On the other hand, results showed that J. curcas and M. oleifera ethanol extracts were more effective on Staph. aureus growth, while S. chinensis and D. metel did not have any effect on any of the fungi or bacteria under study. The evaluation of the antifungal and antibacterial effect did not confirm the broad spectrum of S. chinensis Folch extract, while M. oleifera and D. metel were more effective on reducing R. solani growth. Also F. oxysporum was affected by J. curcas Folch extract only at high concentrations. These findings support that the traditional use of the plant extracts in the treatment of different infections caused by pathogenic microbes is valuable and should be taken in consideration.

La especie Jatropha curcas es naturalmente tóxica y sus semillas poseen compuestos denominados ésteres de forbol,
que no se destruyen con el calor y que pueden causar severas intoxicaciones. Sin embargo, en algunas regiones de México existen ejemplares que contienen muy bajos o nulos contenidos de ésteres de forbol. Los productores que los conocen las denominan “piñones mansos”. En este trabajo se analizan los datos obtenidos de documentos históricos y recorridos de campo que incluyeron 349 recolectas en 10 estados del país durante el año 1995 y 2008 al 2012 de esta especie. Los resultados contribuyen a formular la teoría de que el piñón manso pudo haber sido descubierto y dispersado por la cultura Totonaca durante sus asentamientos y migraciones en el estado de Veracruz y estados circunvecinos.
PALABRAS

Today, in Europe, there is still no industrial process to favor the distribution of exhausted extinguishing powders (EEP). Extinguishing powders (EP) are the most common extinguishing agents and are composed of very fine particles (90% is less than 0.250mm, with at least 40% less than 0.040mm) Illegal processes of disposal or reuse of  EEP currently taking place throughout Europe. In fact, often maintenance companies illegally dispose of and/or reuse spent extinguishing powders with enormous environmental damage. This is partly due to prohibitive costs, of which a large part due to transport. The demand for fertilizers is increasing; phosphorus is a key raw material, and a possible solution could be mixing with compost and other organic biomass and agricultural residues. In general, both compost and EEP powder have a low density and can take up a great deal of storage volume, so thickening this compost would help reduce the required storage capacity. Furthermore, a danger represented by the handling of compost and EEP is the dispersion of dust that can potentially carry pathogens and toxic organic substances which, if inhaled, could cause respiratory problems during distribution and handling. The aim of this study was to produce compost pellets using exhausted EP in different formulations and to observe the quality of different compost pellet products with respect to different factors affecting handling, storage, and distribution. For the first time, the pelletizing of EEP with compost was performed successfully using five different blends, each with different properties. The results showed that qualitative variables could be controlled to optimize production efficiency and improve the quality of the finished product depending on the type of distribution, handling, and storage. The five compost mixes could be applied in different agricultural crops as fertilizer. Furthermore, this use of exhausted EP allows for positive ecological and economic effects, avoiding the disposal costs required by specialized companies.