Biodiesel: An Alternate Fuel

The exploitation of bioenergy has recently attracted much scientific and commercial attention as a means of addressing the looming energy crisis. Due to energy intensive industrialization and large population growth the resource availability is threatening with increase in global warming which is directly effecting the environment and human health. The rapid growth of the sector leads to improper land use, which resulted in extensive degradation of land. In this industrialized generation transport sector is emerging as the largest consumer of liquid fuel, which is on extinction. Jatropha curcas an oil-bearing plant that can thrive well on semi arid soil with low capital input for its cultivation can be an alternative renewable source, which substitute for conventional diesel. It also reclaims the degraded soil for its economic utilization. This plant offers tremendous scope for biodiesel, which will raise the economy of rural area by generating employments, promoting the women's status, reducing the poverty (protecting crops and selling by-product). It will be a direct way of energy supply for the household and stationary engines in rural area and help in erosion control (planting hedges). By its plantation global warming will decrease along with the use of its oil as biodiesel in conventional vehicles will prove to be eco-friendly. Its by-product can also be commercially supplied to market for economic benefits. This review briefly provides the state-of-the- art information which will stimulate research and development leading to more intensive, efficient, and sustainable utilization of Jatropha.