Bioenergy potentials of three Euphorbia species from Western Ghats in India

Bioenergy constituents of three Euphorbia species viz., Euphorbia vajravelui, E. tortilis, and E. trigona, were evaluated. These Euphorbia species showed moisture (79.5-91.9%), ash (4.06-6.80%), latex (0.08-0.26 g), oil (5.45-5.59%), polyphenol (3.12-8.39%), hydrocarbon (0.28-0.41%), carbon (42.40-44.5%), hydrogen (6.22-8.40%) contents and gross heat values (17.51-18.71 MJ/kg) comparable to other reported Euphorbia plants, energy crops and biomass sources. Thermal analyses (TG/DTG, DTA, DSC) produced comparable results. Trace elements such as Fe, Mg, K, Ca, P, Zn, Mn, Ba, Sr, Cu, Sc, and As were detected in these Euphorbia specimens. This study reveals the biomass/bioenergy potentials of these three Euphorbia species from Western Ghats, India.