Products from Jojoba: a promising new crop for arid lands

Book · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:5618606

This publication reviews the scientific background of the seed oil of Simmondsia chinensis and presents some conclusions by the Committee on Possibilities of Growing Jojoba as a Commercial Crop. The shrub grows wild over an extensive arid area in the Sonoran Desert that covers parts of Arizona, California and Mexico. The seeds contain about 50% by weight of an unsaturated liquid wax which resembles the oil from the sperm whale (now an endangered species) in chemical composition and physical behaviour. The wax is readily extractable in large quantities, mature plants in the USA yielding as much as 12 lb seed (dry weight). The natural life span appears to exceed 100 years and may be twice this length. The plant can develop without any additional water in an area with an annual rainfall of 8 in-, although it is most prevalent when the rainfall is 15 to 18 inches. Chemical tests have shown that the wax can duplicate sperm oil performance as a high-pressure lubricant and it has industrial advantages over sperm oil. One product with an immediate market-potential is hydrogenated jojoba oil which could be a substitute for carnabuba wax. It is estimated that 17 Indian reservations in California and 9 in Arizona could grow jojoba as a viable industry. The crop could increase the productivity of arid lands not suitable for conventional crops and recommendations are made on continuing and expanding governmental support for development and research. 11 references.

• OSTI ID: 5618606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
ARID LANDS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
JOJOBA
USES
ARIZONA
CALIFORNIA
CROPS
CULTIVATION
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
MEXICO
PRODUCTIVITY
SEEDS
WAXES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
LATIN AMERICA
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SHRUBS
USA
WESTERN REGION
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)