PRODUCTION OF PETROLEUM-HYDROCARBONS, FERMENTABLE SUGARS AND ETHANOL FROM TABERNAEMONTANA-DIVARICATA - A NEW FUEL CROP AND RENEWABLE RESOURCE OF ENERGY

The potential of Tabernaermontana divaricata (Linn.) Alston as a petrocrop and renewable source of energy was evaluated. The hexane extract (HE) of the plant was rich in hydrocarbons. The yields of HE from old leaves, roots, flowers and stems were 7.1, 6.2, 4.8 and 3.7% respectively. Methanol extractables (ME) varied from 12.6 to 52.3% and the maximum yield was found in the case of stems. Results obtained through C-13 NMR spectral analysis showed an abundance of aliphatic over aromatic hydrocarbons in the biocrude. The hydrocarbon production, i.e. hexane and methanol extraction of T. divaricata was observed to be similar to 6.53 barrel/ha/yr and 32.4 barrel/ha/yr average biomass, respectively. The hydrocarbon yield and heat value content of HE and ME of T. divaricata were comparable to other petrocrops, as reported earlier. The spent residue obtained after the recovery of biocrude can be processed to get fermentable sugars and ethanol (a cleaner fuel). The fermentable sugars obtained after biohydrolysis were noticed to be about two folds higher than the value obtained after mild acidic hydrolysis. Present studies have suggested that T. divaricata can be converted to petroleum and ethanol, which can be exploited to produce gasohol fuel. The economics of petrofarming would hinge on the proper management of this renewable energy resource to get value added chemicals and fuels.