[Stoves] Testing Jatropha-seed stoves for toxic emissions

[Tom Miles]

I found on a recent visit that cashews are still steam roasted where I lived
in Northeastern Brazil (Ceara)

Toxicity of smoke from roasting has been documented in India. K. Usha and
V.R. Prakasam "Acute Inhalation Toxicitiy of Chashewnut Smoke in White rate
Rattus Norvegicus" in  
Environment and Health by Arvind Kumar 2004. 

And in Brazil: Contact dermatitis caused by smoke from cashew nut shell oil
burning in a Lithraea molleoides sensitized man and local skin memory, RJ
Vieira - Clinical Toxicology, 2006 - csa.com 

A recent paper has recommended steam boiling instead of roasting in India to
reduce pollution. 
www.scipub.org/fulltext/ajes/ajes64324-328.pdf

No mention of toxic vapors from the oils. I suspect that the oil is stripped
by the steam and diluted in the condensed water.

Gasification has been tested as an alternative to combustion: 
Gasification of cashew nut shells for thermal application in local food
processing factory
N Tippayawong, C Chaichana. - Energy for Sustainable, 2010 - Elsevier
   

Tom
 

-----Original Message-----
From: stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Crispin
Pemberton-Pigott
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 8:09 AM
To: 'Discussion of biomass cooking stoves'
Cc: 'Hugh McLaughlin'
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Testing Jatropha-seed stoves for toxic emissions

Dear Paul and Kevin

>On the  other hand, if Jatropha is used and if it is at a stage of  
> combustion where it is making a visibly smokey fire, it is probably  
> dangerous through containing non-consumed J-toxins.

I am just tossing into the conversation that cashew nuts (also called
crowshaw nuts in W Africa) are not processed and used in some countries
because the technique get getting the acids and toxins off the seed are
unknown.

The smoke from fires used to slow roast the outside off the piles of cashew
nuts is extremely toxic - a well-known risk in Brazil and Mozambique for
workers.

Where's there's smoke there's toxins.

Regards
Crispin




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