AIR3-CT94-2480 Crambe abyssinica - Production and Utilization - A Comprehensive Programme

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AIR Cluster IV - Oils and Fats : Biopolymers/Gums : Crops for Biological Control Products : Crops for Biopolymers/Gums : Crops for Detergents : Crops for Fine Chemicals : Crops for Paper/Pulp : Crops for Textiles/Fabrics/Cordage : Detergents : Essential Oil : Fibre : Fine Chemicals : Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control : Paper/Pulp : Pharmaceuticals/Cosmetics : Textiles/Fabrics/Geomembranes

	Contract No	AIR3-CT94-2480
	Total Cost	200 000
	EC Contribution	200 000
	Start Date	01/01/1995
	Duration	36 months

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SUMMARY

Crambe abyssinica is a cruciferous plant which is already quite widely grown in the USA. It can be grown as a spring crop in the EU, although available varieties may not be optimised for European climates. Sowing dates and rates for seeding, cultivation and harvesting are established, but pest and weed control still require trials. The crop produces oil with a high erucic acid content, as well as containing a glycosinolate which can be used as a precursor of fine chemicals and polymers, and generating a residue (the hulls) which can be used as a source of cellulose pulp. At present improvements are required in yield and more work needs to be done on utilisation. The purpose of this project is to bring people with relevant experience and interest together in order to increase the exploitation of this non-food crop in the EU. A workshop on the subject is planned for Spring 1997.

OBJECTIVE

Crambe Abyssinica is a Cruciferae which was grown on 25.000 ha in the USA in 1993 with the aim of selling it in the future on the European market. Experiments mainly in the Netherlands (300 ha) have demonstrated that it can also be cultivated as a spring crop in Western Europe. Sowing dates and rates, plant depth and harvest practices are now well determined. However, pest and weed control are still under evaluation. Other trials will be conducted to increase the cultivation of this new crop especially on marginal and on set-aside lands. New varieties adapted to these situations are under evaluation.

Crambe appears to be a promising crop because of the many possible uses of its seed (pharmaceuticals, detergents, cosmetica, ceramics etc.). In the concerted action, the interest will be focused on oil glucosinolate and fibre.

1. the oil has a higherucic acid (53-67 %) content.
   The most abundant triglyceride is 1,3- erucyl, 2-acyl glycerol. This symmetric structure allows the use of 1,3- specific lipases: and we aim to produce preparations containing about 90 % erucic acid.
   Erucic acid will be used as a building block for polymers. It will also be derivatized and the products will be tested as adjuvants for herbicides and fungicides in order to reduce pesticide doses. The crude oil which is biodegradable provides an alternative to mineral oils in many industrial applications. Its lubricating efficacy will be tested on chain saws. As it has a high smoke point, it will also be tested to harden special steels.

2. The only glucosinolate present is epi-progoitrine which will be tested biocidal activity against certain phytopathogenic insects and fungi. Upon hydrolysation, epi-progoitrine gives chiral cyanides (HBC) which have a high potential in organic chemistry and biotechnology for producing (1) intermediates for fine chemicals, (2) polymers for textile materials of natural origin. Different systems of bio reactors will be built up for optimization HBC production.

3. The hull which is about: 20 % rich in fibre will be used alone or with HBC polymers, for special papers and other materials.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Elise D TITTONEL / ENESAD - Etablissement National d'Enseignement Agronomique de Dijon / FRANCE

EC Scientific Officer

• Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM