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Biodegradation of Jatropha curcas phorbol esters in soil
Author(s) -
Devappa Rakshit K,
Makkar Harinder PS,
Becker Klaus
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.4056
Subject(s) - jatropha curcas , jatropha , biodegradation , moisture , chemistry , water content , bioassay , biodiesel , agronomy , horticulture , biology , organic chemistry , ecology , geotechnical engineering , engineering , catalysis
BACKGROUND: Jatropha curcas seed cake is generated as a by‐product during biodiesel production. Seed cake containing toxic phorbol esters (PEs) is currently used as a fertiliser and thus it is of eco‐toxicological concern. In the present study the fate of PEs in soil was studied. RESULTS: Two approaches for the incorporation of PEs in soil were used. In the first, silica was bound to PEs, and in the second, seedcake was used. At day 0, the concentration of PEs in soil was 2.6 and 0.37 mg g −1 for approach 1 and 2 respectively. PEs from silica bound PEs were completely degraded after 19, 12, 12 days (at 130 g kg −1 moisture) and after 17, 9, 9 days (at 230 g kg −1 moisture) at room temperature, 32 °C and 42 °C respectively. Similarly at these temperatures PEs from seed cake were degraded after 21, 17 and 17 days (at 130 g kg −1 moisture) and after 23, 17, and 15 days (at 230 g kg −1 moisture). Increase in temperature and moisture increased rate of PEs degradation. Using the snail ( Physa fontinalis ) bioassay, mortality by PE‐amended soil extracts decreased with the decrease in PE concentration in soil. CONCLUSION: Jatropha PEs are biodegradable. The degraded products are innocuous. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry