Jatropha is a shrub grown in dry places. Oil is extracted from the seeds of Jatropha. The Jatropha oil is used as bio diesel. Because of its high commercial value the oil is used as an alternate to biodiesel. Oils from the seeds are mainly extracted through the mechanical method, traditional method and modern method.

Mechanical method

Oil presses:

Oil presses is a simple mechanical device that is used for oil extraction. There are different processes of oil presses. The Bielenberg ram process is the commonly used presses. It is the traditional method and it is used for preparing oil cakes and soaps. 3 liters of oil is extracted from 12 kg of seeds.

Oil expeller:

There are different types of oil expellers. Sayari oil expeller and komet oil expellers are commonly used oil expellers.

The sayari oil expeller is operated with diesel and it was originated in Nepal and komet is a single screw oil expeller and it is used in oil cake preparation.

Traditional method

In this method, jatropha oil is extracted from the seeds by hand using simple procedures. Till now it is practiced in rural and undeveloped areas.

Modern method

The modern methods are used to produce more oil with fewer seeds. Enzymatic treatment the oil is reacted with alcohol in the presence of catalyst. Methanol and ethanol is the alcohol used in the process and sodium hydroxide is used as the catalyst. The biodiesel is extracted from this process.