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Balkrishna,<br>
<br>
Soapnuts are also known as 'Reetha' in Hindi. You may know this
name better. You may know them as something you might have used for
hair washing as well as washing woollens.<br>
<a
href="http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/herbfinder/h_sapindus.htm">http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/herbfinder/h_sapindus.htm</a><br>
<br>
The <i>Sapindus Mukorossi</i> tree is native to China and is
related to Lychee. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapindus">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapindus</a><br>
They may actually be considered an alien plant by some Indian
botanists [?], although they are grown extensively in northern India
-- as well as southern China. They are also known as "Chinese Soap
Berries", although Wikipedia says that "<i>The generic name is
derived from the Latin words saponis, meaning "soap," and indicus,
meaning "of India."</i>..." or "soap of the Indies".<br>
<br>
Soap Nuts are actually not nuts at all. They are berries (hence the
name 'Soap Berries').<br>
They are also propagated in Indonesia and Japan (they may or may
not be able to sustain freezing temperatures, depending on their
specific biome).<br>
<br>
It is likely that early trade routes and nomadic tribes carried
them by either man or animals from their origins in China to the
other connected lands within Asia to the border of the Himalayas
from South Eastern China to Nepal, and <b>North Western India</b>.
It otherwise probably would have took about thousand of years to
migrate down though Nepal to Northern India.<br>
<br>
They are also being grown in North America in places line Florida
(this is the "Florida Soapberry" sub species: <a
href="http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st582">http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st582</a>),
South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas [they can be found scattered along
limestone bluffs in the Ozarks], Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri,
Arizona, northern Mexico and the Caribbean (often originally planted
by Indian immigrants). There is a native North American Species, the
"Western Soapberry" (<i>Sapindus drummondii</i>), which is a small
deciduous tree about 30 feet tall belonging to the same soapberry
family.<br>
They are also grown in Hawaii -- the Hawaiians use the hard, black
seeds as part of their hula costumes... and for leis. (the Hawaiian
species of Soapberry native to Oahu and Kauai, <i>Sapindus
oahuensis</i> ~ called 'aulu', 'kaulu' or 'lonomea' on the
island).<br>
They may even grow them in some parts of Germany, Switzerland and
France.<br>
<br>
In Asia there are two main varieties of Soap Nuts: <i><b>sapindus
trifoliatus</b></i> (The Small Soap Nut - ~ 1.4 grams, ~23-24%
saponins, grows ~12 meters high) and <i><b>sapindus mukorossi</b></i>
(The Large Soap Nut - ~2.8 grams, ~11-11.5% saponins, grows ~20
meters high). The Sapindus trees are extremely slow growing and take
approximately 10 years before fruiting and providing berries.<br>
The Large Soap Nut is the most commonly used in cleaning (probably
due to its size & ease of harvesting), but both varieties are
quite effective. The weight of the seeds** are about 50% of the
whole nut (including shell).<br>
<br>
**Note that soap berry, like a cherry (Lychee or <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longan">Longan</a>), has a big,
black, rock hard seed in every fruit. The seeds should be removed
when fresh off the tree before being used since the seeds have no
value for cleaning (only the dried skin and pulp are used for that).<br>
(The seed ends up being only added weight if sold 'seed-in', so
most people prefer to purchase soapnuts without the seed.)<br>
<br>
If you look around (contact the soapnut producers), you may find
that there are small 'mountains' of Soapnut seeds that are sitting
in piles and have no use. (The seeds of sapindus mukorossi are
usually round, but sometimes pear-shaped: around 1/2 cm to 1 cm long
/ wide at the widest part.)<br>
<a
href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B004J36CYM/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=286168&s=garden">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B004J36CYM/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=286168&s=garden</a><br>
I also suspect that the used, re-dried pulp might make for a good
fuel.<br>
When dried it is quite hard and I believe that it retains its shape
quite well.<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72"> Lloyd Helferty, Engineering Technologist
Principal, Biochar Consulting (Canada)
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.biochar-consulting.ca">www.biochar-consulting.ca</a>
603-48 Suncrest Blvd, Thornhill, ON, Canada
905-707-8754; 647-886-8754 (cell)
Skype: lloyd.helferty
Steering Committee member, Canadian Biochar Initiative
President, Co-founder & CBI Liaison, Biochar-Ontario
Advisory Committee Member, IBI
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1404717">http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1404717</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42237506675">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42237506675</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://groups.google.com/group/biochar-ontario">http://groups.google.com/group/biochar-ontario</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.meetup.com/biocharontario/">http://www.meetup.com/biocharontario/</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://grassrootsintelligence.blogspot.com">http://grassrootsintelligence.blogspot.com</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.biochar.ca">www.biochar.ca</a>
Biochar Offsets Group: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2446475">http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2446475</a>
"Necessity may be the mother of invention, but innovators need to address problems before they become absolute necessities..."</pre>
<br>
On 2011-08-19 1:41 AM, Balkrishna n.Dave wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAJs6Unipcq__rBm9FLhQD59K_rQTKG-GwOq2qCmSuda8iBRUiA@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">can be cultivate at Indian tropical atemosphere (Soapnut)?
Dr.Dave
On 8/18/11, Lloyd Helferty <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:lhelferty@sympatico.ca"><lhelferty@sympatico.ca></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Dear Crispin,
I will be certain to drop in to see you the next time I am passing
through, ~ which isn't actually that often.
The last time I was in the Waterloo area I was attending a meeting at
RTI, the fast pyrolysis company located there -- talking about Biochar,
of course.
I would like to do some emissions tests, but I don't have the Jatropha
(that was only in MA). It works with wood pellets too, of course (it
was designed for pellets). I'd like to try other fuels too (maybe
Switchgrass pellets?). ~ What I am really wanting to try are (used,
dried) "Soap Nut" berries (from the Sapindus Mukorossi
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="http://www.sapindusmukorossi.com/"><http://www.sapindusmukorossi.com/></a> tree -- other species are also found
in different parts of the country), which are apparently ubiquitous in
Nepal - generally Soapnuts are mostly found on the Western Part of
Nepal. <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.forestrynepal.org/resources/trees/sapindus-mukorossi">http://www.forestrynepal.org/resources/trees/sapindus-mukorossi</a>
Soapnuts are known as 'Rithha' in Nepali, and they are used
traditionally as soap over there for washing wool garments.
They are actually among the list of herbs and minerals in Ayurveda. They
are a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleansers and are
used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and for
"removing freckles". Soap nuts also have gentle insecticidal properties
and are traditionally used for removing lice.
If the planting of (both edible and non-edible) nut trees** could be
promoted not only for their agricultural (income-producing) value but
also for their energy (fuels) value [for stoves] ~ they might even
become more valuable standing than if they are cut down. This could
possibly then become a powerful incentive for promoting reforestation
and afforestation since people could end up making more money planting
and caring for the trees (and harvesting the fruits and nuts from them)
than by chopping them down to make whole-wood fuels (like "cooking
charcoal").
**Note: Nut trees are some of the best carbon sequestering trees.
Agroforestry systems with Fruit and Nut trees for food can produce a lot
of calories. Someone once told me that an acre of apple trees can
produce "20 million calories". A million calories can easily produce
enough calories (on ~1/10 of an acre) for 1 person for a year. (== 2740
calories/day, which is actually higher than the "2,000 calorie diet"
that is typically recommended by nutritionists.)
P.S. The biggest problem with the J-nuts was starting the fire at the
top. I had to spend some time crushing and opening up a handful of nuts
to place on top so that the oils would be released and it would light
easier. (I also 'cheated' and soaked the top layer of crushed J-nuts in
97% IPA before throwing a match on. I don't know how easy [or clean] it
is to start the stove without the IPA. I suspect that in places like
Africa and Nepal IPA isn't quite as easy to come by.)
Lloyd Helferty, Engineering Technologist
Principal, Biochar Consulting (Canada)
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.biochar-consulting.ca">www.biochar-consulting.ca</a>
603-48 Suncrest Blvd, Thornhill, ON, Canada
905-707-8754; 647-886-8754 (cell)
Skype: lloyd.helferty
Steering Committee member, Canadian Biochar Initiative
President, Co-founder& CBI Liaison, Biochar-Ontario
Advisory Committee Member, IBI
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1404717">http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1404717</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42237506675">http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42237506675</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://groups.google.com/group/biochar-ontario">http://groups.google.com/group/biochar-ontario</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.meetup.com/biocharontario/">http://www.meetup.com/biocharontario/</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://grassrootsintelligence.blogspot.com">http://grassrootsintelligence.blogspot.com</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.biochar.ca">www.biochar.ca</a>
Biochar Offsets Group: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2446475">http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2446475</a>
"Necessity may be the mother of invention, but innovators need to address
problems before they become absolute necessities..."
On 2011-08-16 6:32 PM, Crispin Pemberton-Pigott wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">
Dear Lloyd
That is great news. If you are passing through Waterloo please stop in
so we can do a couple of emission tests.
I was working on the weekend to burn one of the worst fuels I have
seen so far -- a 100mm diameter high density sawdust log with no hole
in the centre. Eventually I got it working well and boiled 5.2 litres
in 16 minutes. I used a 130mm long piece standing up on end in a
Vesto. I also tried drilling a 1 inch hole through the centre but to
burn that it needs to be in 'gasifier mode'. That means starting with
a higher primary air flow then closing it. Not as convenient but possible.
Regards
Crispin
*From:*stoves-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:stoves-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org">mailto:stoves-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org</a>] *On Behalf Of *Lloyd
Helferty
*Sent:* 16 August 2011 14:31
*To:* Discussion of biomass cooking stoves
*Subject:* Re: [Stoves] Jatropha and its future
Christina (And Jan),
Just to let you (and everyone) know, I was able to successfully
use/burn whole Jatropha nuts in a natural draft Top-Lit- UpDraft
(TLUD) stove (made out of tin cans) at the recent CHAB Camp hosted by
the Biomass Energy Foundation in Belchertown, MA. I did it outdoors
on a windy day.
While I did not intentionally inhale the smoke, I do not believe
that the smoke of the J-nuts was any more toxic than other types of
smoke. Hugh McLaughlin actually explained that the smoke from a
Jatropha fire was likely just as toxic as from any other fire -- smoke
of any kind tends to be something one should not breathe [hence the
warning on cigarette boxes].
My little natural draft TLUD produced very little smoke once the
secondary airflow was adjusted properly and pyrolyzing the Jatropha
nuts, although when it was left unattended it did start smoking a
little bit at the end of the burn as the stove attempted to burn
through the resulting biochar. (Although if this were running
indoors, I would probably be more worried about the CO being produced
than any toxicity that might arise from the J-nuts.)
Lloyd Helferty, Engineering Technologist
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</pre>
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