UP develops high-grade jatropha biodiesel

The College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technologies (CEAT) and the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) of the University of the Philippines-Los Banos campus (UPLB) have developed high-grade jatropha methyl ester (JME), a biodiesel, in their laboratories. The biodiesel developed has an average of 99.6% purity, surpassing the 96.5% purity requirement of the proposed Philippine National Standard (PNS). UPLB, Philippine National Oil Co.-Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC), and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research Development have signed a memorandum of agreement to tap the university for an integrated R&D program on jatropha as biodiesel feedstock. (July 13, 2007)