Kernel oils of jatropha (Jatropha curcas) and da’ok (Calophyllum inophyllum) obtained in Guam were characterized for physio-chemical properties as potential biodiesels including calorific content, iodine value, peroxide value, saponification value, acid value, and moisture content. Jatropha oil had lower acid value, peroxide value and moisture content than da’ok crude oil. Additional pre-treatment of da’ok crude oil was necessary to prevent potential problems when converting to biodiesel. Crude oils of two species were converted to biodiesel using a supercritical methanol method. The composition of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) indicated that both crude oils and converted biodiesel of jatropha and da’ok contained palmitate (C16:0) with the range of 11.8-16.8% by weight, stearate (C18:0) with 6.5-8.6%, oleate (C18:1) with 40.5-52.6%, and linoleate (C18:2) with 22.0- 34.2%. Based on FAMEs, the cetane number was determined for jatropha and da’ok biodiesel as 52.7 and 54.1, respectively, indicating that both kernel oils were good source of feedstock to produce high quality biodiesel.

 

Fallen, senescent leaves of tree heliotrope (Heliotropium foertherianum), a ubiquitous shoreline tree from the Indian Ocean, tropical Asia, Australia, and the western and central Pacific, are a novel food item for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Hawaiʻi. Leaves were collected in two seasons and analyzed for proximate nutrients, including dry matter, ash, crude fat, crude protein, carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio, gross energy, as well as dietary fibers (ADF and NDF), lignin, and total phenol content. The senescent leaves showed a high C:N ratio, and measurable phenolic compounds, but were low in protein (x = 5.5%) and fat (x = 2.2%) based on dry weight. Gross energy averaged >4500 Kcal/kg ash-free dry weight; therefore, H. foertherianum could provide more calories than other marine food sources for Hawaiian green turtles. Green turtles elsewhere within the broad geographic range of tree heliotrope’s distribution may also consume senescent leaves that fall into coastal waters.