Comparison of some species in genus Brassica cultivated on clay loamy soils under semi-arid agroecosystem for suitability to biodiesel production

ABSTRACTInstead of using canola purelines, the use of other species in genus Brassica will be a novel concept to obtain sustainable biodiesel production. This study compares the crude oil percentage, fatty acid composition, and biodiesel characteristics of spring and autumn sown Brassica juncea, B. rapa ssp. oleifera, Sinapis alba, B. nigra purelines appropriateness for biodiesel production. The results indicated that crude oil percentage and fatty acid composition are significantly affected by an interaction between years × genotypes. The crude oil percentage in all species in genus Brassica changed between 14.31 and 30.46% in spring crops and 22.29 and 36.88% in autumn crops. Erucic acid (C22:1; 10.2–42.8%), oleic acid (C18:1; 14.2–34.9%), and linoleic acid (C18:2; 6.8–25.1%) were identified as major fatty acids in all genotypes. Technical features of biodiesel produced by transesterification of species in genus Brassica oil such as acid value (0.18–0.50 mg KOH g−1), water content (110–480 mg kg−1), iodine value (97.30–119.89 g iodine 100 g−1), cold filter plugging point (−5–5°C), flash point (170–205°Ϲ), and glyceride (0.003–0.46% mm−1). These values indicated that regardless of the time of sowing, these lines are appropriate for biodiesel production in accordance with the TS EN 14,214 standards. Br2 (B. rapa ssp. oleifera) autumn and Bj3 (B. juncea) spring crops are preferable compared to other genotypes to achieve higher yield and quality. Therefore, these genotypes are recommended for further evaluation and sustainable biodiesel production.KEYWORDS: Biofuel technical featureBrassica junceaB. nigraB. rapa ssp. oleiferacrude oil percentagefatty acidSinapis alba AcknowledgementsThe author wishes to thank the DB Agricultural Energy to which determines crude oil percentage, fatty acid component, and biodiesel technical properties in its laboratory, to the entire project team for their contribution, and to Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood Khawar (Department of Field Crops, Ankara University, Turkey) for support in the preparation of the article. The author would also like to thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Grant No. 1505-5190038) for its financial support as a project of the Central Field Crops Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey and DB Agricultural Energy Industry and Trade Limited, Izmir, Turkey. This article covers the works included in the business plan’s Ankara location of DB Agricultural Energy which is the Customers Company of the project supported by TUBITAK.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.Data availability statementThe data are available on request.Additional informationFundingThis research was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, grant number 5190038.Notes on contributorsFatma KayacetinFatma Kayacetin Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Program of Kalecik Vocational School of Ankara University, Turkey. She works in the field of medicinal-aromatic and oilseed plants agronomy and breeding.