Spectroscopic investigation of tissue-specific biomass profiling for Jatropha curcas L.

Abstract

The current focus of Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) research concerns the biodiesel obtained from the seed. However, the plant is an interesting source of biomass, and it has been applied in various ways. The characterization of the different parts of the plant is very important for better use of the residual biomass after oil harvesting. We divided Jatropha samples into seven samples: leaf, stem, bark, xylem, pith, seed coat and kernel, and their characterization was made using two spectroscopic techniques, namely Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Xylem and seed coat accumulate lignin and possibly O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucurono-β-D-xylan hemicellulose. Xylem lignin was richer in syringyl units and seed coat lignin was richer in guaiacyl units. Leaf, pith and bark accumulate cellulose and no O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucurono-β-D-xylan hemicellulose, and the kernel had a low rate of lignocellulose.