The purpose of the present research was to verify the behavior of the energeticparameters of Jatropha curcas (L.) seeds. A batch of 2,000 g of seeds was separated into the following materials: a) seeds, b) albumen and c) shell. Each one of these materials was submitted to temperature treatments at 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 ºC. The following parameters were determined: volatile materials, solid organic matter (fixed carbon), ashes and heat power. The following conclusions were obtained: a) there were significant differences between the materials as well as between the temperature treatments; b) the content of volatile materials increased as the temperature raised; the highest mean values were observed in the albumen and the lowest ones were found in the seeds shell; c) the content of solid organic matter, represented by the fixed carbon, decreased as the treatment temperature increased; the highest mean values were found in the shell, while the lowest values were observed in the albumen, d) the ashes content was higher in the shell when compared to the albumen and seed, e) the superior heat power for the seed and albumen were higher at 400 ºC and lower as the temperature increased. Regarding the shell, the superior heat power increased from 100 to 700 ºC, followed by a decrease at 800 and 900 ºC.
jatropha; energetic quality; temperature variation