Cardoon as potential feedstock for biodiesel production

LANZA VOLPE, MELISA; MANCINI, MICAELA; MALIK, YAIR; MORERO, ANA CARINA; GATTI, BERNARDITA; BADARACCO, PAULA; CRAVERO, VANINA

Rosario

Congreso; XVI World Congress on Oil & Fats an 31st ISF Lectureship Series.; 2015

In the last years several studies were conducted to find alternative sources of vegetables oils. Among them, many research groups have focused into cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) in order to determine its potential industrial applications (like biodiesel production). Cardoon is a perennial species belonging to Asteraceae family (Compositae) and comprises three botanical varieties, C. cardunculus L. var. altilis (domestic cardoon) C. cardunculus L. var. sylvestris (wild cardoon) and C. cardunculus L. var. scolymus (globe artichoke). The species produces 20-30 tons of dry matter per ha per year, including 2-3 tons of seeds. This study aims to determine the amount of oil produced by domestic and wild cardoon as well as the chemical composition of this oil in order to evaluate its putative use as biodiesel feedstock. No significant differences for oil content between botanical varieties were observed; values of 20.80 +/- 6.65% were found. The acidity ranged from 0.68% to 3.57% acid oleic, showing differences between accessions but not between botanical varieties. The fatty acid composition was similar for both botanical varieties: palmitic (10.9%), stearic (3.0%), oleic (23.5%) and linoleic (61.3%). Unsaturated acids (linoleic and oleic) predominated over saturated ones (stearic and palmitic). These results show that cardoon oil is similar to soybean oil in quantity and composition. Soybean seeds have about 23% of oil and its composition is: palmitic (11.3%), stearic (3.6%), oleic (24.9%) and linoleic (53.0%). Nevertheless, cardoon oil show lower content of linolenic acid than soybean oil (0.1 and 7.0%, respectively). Low content of this unsaturated acid is desirable for biodiesel production because linolenic acid generates instability of the fuel. Although soybean can yield more than 4 t/ha per hectare whereas cardoon, according to previous reports, yield about 2 - 3 t/ha, it should be noted that cardoon can grow on poor soils and with low moisture content. Moreover, it is a perennial crop which can remain in production for 10-15 years. These results postulate that cardoon could be a potential non edible alternative culture for biodiesel production.