Tuba-tuba: bio-diesel that keeps a premium

IT may be a “lame” alternative but for the country's industries and transport threatened by paralysis due to the global oil crisis, “tuba-tuba” or “kasla” may be worth a try. Otherwise known for its curative properties over sprains, gas pains and still a whole lot of maladies, “tuba-tuba” or “kasla” comes out like a quack doctor in the age of the polyclinics and oil crisis.

Recent research shows that jatropha (tuba-tuba) can also cure a polluted world, and it comes with a premium: clean bio-diesel. With the efforts to lessen the impact of the global oil crisis and the government's search for renewable energy, the scope is now drawn to the country's bio-fuel sources, they being renewable and ecologically sound.

The Bohol Poverty Reduction Management Office is now in the thick of laying plans for massive planting and production in its out-reach areas to grow ground cover and at the same time, generate income for poor households in the far-flung communities. Jatropha is just one of the many alternative bio-diesel fuels that have shown to have better exhaust emissions than traditional Diesel fuel. Here, tuba-tuba bio-diesel holds a good promise. From the fruits of the plant are bio-diesel components that are non-toxic, bio degradable and renewable fuel, said experts.

In Tagbilaran City where emission regulations are up for implementation, the trend towards cleaner burning fuel may be the way to go and jatropha is it. According to research, bio-diesels perform better than the petroleum diesel, therefore its emissions are clearer. In fact, in Bohol , where the environment is given a premium, jatropha may be a recourse again to cure a lot of worries. Jatropha bio diesel mixes with diesel fuel and runs in any diesel engine without modification. This Reduces serious air pollutants such as carbon monoxides, hydrocarbons and air toxins.

Other than extracting bio-diesel, the tree's leaf and bark are used for various other industrial and pharmaceutical uses. Commonly thriving here, Jatropha is resistant to drought and grow even on any type of soil, grows almost anywhere and even in sandy, gravelly and saline soils. It starts yielding from the second year onwards and continues for 40 years. Bio-fuels from the plant are extracted from its seeds, while the leaf and the bark are still used for various other industrial and pharmaceutical uses. Approximately 31 to 37% of oil extracted from the seed can be used for any diesel engine without modification, research said.

l