Analysis of physical and mechanical properties and of gross calorific value of Jatropha curcas seeds and waste from pressing process
 ¹Technical  University  of  Košice,  Faculty  of  Manufacturing  Technologies,  Department  of  Technological  Systems  Operation,  Štúrova 31,  Prešov 08001, Slovak Republic; 
 *Correspondence: juraj.ruzbarsky@tuke.sk
 ²Department  of  Material  Science  and  Manufacturing  Technology,  Faculty  of Engineering,  Czech  University  of  Life  Science,  Kamýcká 129,  16521  Prague, Czech Republic
Abstract:
The research was performed with an aim to investigate physical and mechanical properties and a gross calorific value of Jatropha curcas seeds and particular products (waste) of a pressing process. Sizes of seeds, an energy which is necessary for pressing an oil and a setting of the gross calorific value were tested parameters. Tests were performed at Jatropha Curcas seeds of a brown colour (that means gnaw). The pressing process waste amounts up to 80%. The proportion of the kernel mass to the coat mass is 1:0.62. From the research results it follows that the coat mass is 37.60%. The seed coat belongs among interesting material owing to the gross calorific value. For pressing the whole seeds it is necessary of about 30% higher energy than for pressing the kernels of Jatropha curcas.
Key words:
coat of seed, energy, kernel, oil-cakes, pressing, seed