The novel Epoxy Molecule of Vernolic acid
The oil is an especially attractive raw material for industry because it is so rich in single fatty acids Vernolic acid is primarily present in the oil as triglyceride trivernolin.It is its epoxy groups (the oxygen atom attached to two carbon atoms) of such glycerides oils that make these materials useful in plastics and coatings. They serve as highly reactive sites where one tiglycerides molecule can become attached to adjacent molecules, and these to others, to form inter-locking polymer network.
O
CH3-(CH2)4-C-C-CH2—CH=CH-(CH2)7 COOH
H H
(...about Soybean and line seed oils Carlson and Chang,1985).
Currently vernonia oil is produced by solvent extraction the same process used for soya bean oil. Chemically, the oil is similar to epoxidized soyabean and linseed oils, but there is important difference , one that can be exploited to avoid competing with these agricultural products. Epoxidized soya bean and linseed oil seed are highly viscous (300-1500 cps), they are semi-solid at 50 F and non pourable below 30 F. In contrast, vernonia oil has low viscosity (110 cps)
Currently, vernonia oil is produced by solvent extraction- the same process used for soya bean oil. Chemically, the oil is similar to epoxidized soyabean and linseed oils, but there is important difference, one that can be exploited to avoid competing with these agricultural products. Epoxidized soya bean and linseed oil seed are highly viscous (300-1500 cps), they are semi-solid at 50 F and non pourable below 30 F. In contrast, vernonia oil has low viscosity (110 cps).
The inherent assumptions for the undertaking of this project:
In 1964, while he was collecting plants in Ethiopia for National Cancer institute antitumor screening program, ARS botanist Robert E. Perdue, Jr., “accidently” noticed on the side of the road, while eating lunch, a species of vernonia which retained its seed and voucher specimens. But it was not until the early 1980’s that he was finally able to mount an all out research effort on his “ serendipitous find”. From USA context, millions of dollars have been invested in research and development of vernonia (industrial applications and agronomy). More than 32 patents awarded to various investors. Despite of the excitements created by the successful vernonia industrial application research results presented at Industrial Crop Conference including our lead researcher's research presentation in Peoria, Illinois, agronomic limitation elsewhere other than Ethiopia was recognized as insurmountable challenge. While the original germplasm from Ethiopia is tailor-made as a new crop, with broad genetic diversity, maximum effort should be made in the areas of wild type collection and improved varieties. Achievable goals
Vernonia galamensis ssp. galamensis var. ethiopica is a new annual industrial oilseed. It grows naturally in marginal areas with as little as 200 mm seasonal rainfall and at an elevation ranging from 700–2400 m in the southern and southeastern parts of Ethiopia (Gilbert 1986). It was first identified in eastern Ethiopia by R.E. Perdue Jr. in 1964 at 7 km south east of Harar town (9° 14'N and 42° 35'E at 1700 m). While the original germplasm is tailor made, we shall continue to Collect wild type from Harerge Region (9o 14’N 42o 38’N) , from Showa Region near Meki (8o10’N38o 50’E) , from Bale region 42km from Ginir(6o55’N40o57E).
The Project Objectives:
The long term objective is to make Ethiopia the principal source or major supplier of vernolic acid (natural epoxy oil) to the Global Market. The objective of this project is to make Ethiopia the principal source or major Supplier of vernolic acid (natural epoxy oil) to the Global Market. We have developed a dynamic Five Year Systematic Master Plan that combines Agro-Industrial production, Research and an Active Web-Link with the end user to lay a solid foundation, product improvement and assurance of sustainable production, all the three interplaying factors shall be conducted simultaneously in parallel until we establish a single Standard Protocol for maximum per/hectare yield of Vernonia oil.
The short term objective is to meet the local epoxy demand for Ethiopian Paint industry. Currently, there are eight paint industries in Ethiopia, importing close to 3 million liters of epoxy oil for various paint application. Our immediate master plan is to meet this demand in three phases Agronomic aspect of this project shall start in our preparation for production period Dec, 2009- April,2010. Vernonia galamensis (V-004) previously collected from meki region and evaluated for vernonia oil content in USA, at Howard University, (Anex# ), will be multiplied to be used for scale up production on 100 hectares June, 2010-Nov, 2011. Agronomy methods developed in the USA and used in Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Kenya will initially be used for seed multiplication until we develop our own Standard method extrapolated from our own Research data. Based on Zimbabwe and Ethiopia experience, 5-6 Kg of vernonia is needed per heactare with a minimum yield of 2500Kg per Hectare in Zimbabwe and 4000 hectare/Alamya.. Very recently, the plant was found to be a potential crop for inclusion into the agricultural system in Ethiopia. Among other characters, a seed yield up to 4000 kg/ha and an oil content of 40% using unimproved local materials was obtained which is much higher than found elsewhere (Baye 1996, 1998, 2000; Baye et al. 2001). The established current vernonia oil price is 2$ per Lb at the minimum. In our scale up project, we shall start extracting vernonia oil on the 1st year. In the year to meet the local paint and Animal feed demand.
Research is an integral part of this project for two significant reasons: A. Vernonia galamensis is a new crop, even though it grows wild at several arid zones, whose cultural requirements has yet to be well defined. B. The price of Vernonia oil has to be compatible with its petroleum counter part to be attractive to the end users and this can only be beneficial to the producer if we could maximize the per hectare oil Yield by using both conventional and biotechnology methods.
