Effect of Operating Parameters on Decortication of Jatropha Curcas L. Fruits

Jatropha curcas L. is a multipurpose shrub or tree with immense medicinal and industrial values. Manual decortication of the fruits to extract seeds is uneconomical, time consuming, associated with drudgery and low output capacity. The tractor operated castor decorticator was modified for decortication of jatropha fruits and assessed for performance evaluation. The studies on jatropha decorticator were conducted with three parameters i.e. effect of moisture content (7.95, 9.05 and 12.84 % d.b.), cylinder speed (1.38, 1.57, 1.78 and 1.97 m/s) and concave clearance (16 and 18 mm) at feed rate of 6 kg/min. The performance was evaluated for its decortication efficiency, cleaning efficiency, percentage seed loss, mechanical damage and output capacity at different combination of operating parameters. The optimum combination of parameter was found as 9.05 per cent moisture content (d.b.), 1.97 m/s cylinder speed and 16 mm concave clearance with output capacity of 210.57 kg/h. The performance of this decorticator has indicated the possibility of exploiting the full industrial potential of jatropha fruits.