Studies on castor oil. I. Fatty acid composition of castor oil

Summary Methyl esters of castor oil were prepared by saponifying the oil with potassium hydroxide in methanol, splitting the potassium soapsin situ with an excess of hydrochloric acid, and esterifying at room temperature. The esters had hydroxyl values comparable with those of the parent oils. The methyl esters were quantitatively resolved into hydroxy and nonhydroxy esters after reacting with succinic anhydride in toluene. The composition of castor oil was calculated from a) amount of nonhydroxy esters, b) methyl linoleate content of methyl esters determined spectro-photometrically, c) iodine value of the methyl esters determined by the Wijs method at 15–20°C., and d) iodine value of the nonhydroxy esters determined by the Woburn method. This composition was confirmed by the estimation of saturated acids in one sample and dihydroxystearic acid in all. Castor oil was readly hydrogenated with Raney nickel in alcohol at room temperature (30–33°C.) without any hydrogenolysis of the hydroxyl groups. Methyl dihydroxystearate content of the methyl esters of this hydrogenated oil was determined by reaction with 80–100% excess periodic acid at 15–20°C. Part of a thesis submitted for the Ph.D. degree to the University of Bombay.     

Composition of castor oil by optical activity

Summary The optical activity of castor oil and its derivatives has been studied. Pure methyl ricinoleate and methyl acetyl ricinoleate were prepared. The mixed methyl esters and acetylated methyl esters of castor oil were also prepared. By the determination of specific rotation of the pure and technical esters, the percentage of ricinoleate fraction can be deduced. This was calculated to be 93% and 90%, respectively. The esters of castor oil were calculated to contain 91.6% ricinoleate from the chemical hydroxyl value. This was about the average of the two values obtained optically and is believed close to the actual value. A number of castor oils were analyzed by both optical and chemical methods and found to be of nearly constant ricinoleic content. Dehydrated castor oil was found to have a comparative high specific rotation. This was believed due to its estolide content formed during dehydration.     

Properties of alkyl esters base on castor oil

Castor oil is a non‐traditional raw material for the preparation of methyl and ethyl esters of higher fatty acids as alternative fuels for diesel engines. Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid (12‐hydroxy octadecene acid) with a major share of about 90%. The article presents the parameters of castor oil‐based methyl esters (COME) and ethyl esters (COEE) defined by the standard EN 14 214. The densities of COME and COEE are higher than the limit defined by the standard EN 14 214. The viscosities are more than twice as high as the limit value. The cetane numbers are lower than defined by the standard EN 14 214. For the remaining parameters, COME and COEE meet, in principle, the standard EN 14 214. The presence of the free hydroxyl group has virtually no effect on the values of such parameters as carbon residue, filterability at low temperatures and oxidation stability, for which some influence was expected. The physicochemical parameters of the castor oil esters are discussed in comparison to the analogous esters of high‐oleic sunflower oil, which contain about 80% of oleic acid. Both the methyl and ethyl esters of high‐oleic sunflower oil meet the standard EN 14 214 in all prescribed parameters.     

Production,chemistry, and commercial applications of various chemicals from castor oil

The presence of a hydroxyl group, in addition to an olefinic linkage, in the predominating fatty acid of castor oil gives this vegetable oil many unique and interesting properties. Castor oil consists largely of glycerides of ricinoleic acid or 12-hydroxy octadecenoic acid. The chemical reactions of castor oil, undecylenic acid, 12-hydroxylstearic acid, sebacic acid, and nylon 11, depict the uniqueness of this agricultural oil. By dehydration, castor oil is converted to a conjugated acid oil similar to tung or oiticica oil. The catalytic dehydration results in the formation of a new double bond in the fatty acid chain. The dehydrated castor oil imparts good flexibility, rapid dry, excellent color retention, and water resistance to protective coatings. The pyrolysis of castor oil cleaves the molecule to produce undecylenic acid and heptaldehyde. The pyrolysis of the methyl ester at 450–550 C results in the formation of methyl 10-undecylenate. Hydrolysis of the methyl ester gives 10-undecylenic acid. Hydrogen bromide is added to form 11-bromo undecanoic, which is ammoniated and condensed to form a nylon polymer. When castor oil is added slowly to an 80% caustic solution, the sodium ricinoleate formed splits to form sodium sebacate and capryl alcohol. Sebacic acid is condensed with hexamethylene diamine to form nylon 6,10. The commercial application of castor oil derivatives in urethanes, starch gel modifiers, medium chain triglycerides, and thixotropic additives is reviewed briefly. One of 12 papers presented in the symposium “Novel Uses of Agricultural Oils” at the AOCS Spring Meeting, New Orleans, April 1973.     

Characteristic properties of cutting fluid additives derived from the reaction products of hydroxyl fatty acids with some acid anhydrides

Several adducts were prepared from the thermal reaction of hydroxyl fatty acids (ricinoleic acid oligomers, 12-hydroxystearic acid oligomers, oleyl alcohol, dehydrated castor oil fatty acids, and dimer acid) with maleic anhydride and screened as water-soluble cutting fluids. For example, aqueous solutions of triethanolamine salts with the products of ricinoleic acid oligomers, 12-hydroxystearic acid dimer, and 12-hydroxysteric acid hexamer showed good antirust properties for waterbased cutting fluids. Various half esters of hydroxyl fatty compounds with acid anhydrides were prepared. Aqueous solutions of triethanolamine salts of half esters of maleic anhydride and succinic anhydride and phthalic anhydride with hydroxyl fatty acids gave good antirust and antiwear properties for waterbased cutting fluids.     

Castor Epoxy Fatty Acid Alkyl Ester Estolides as Bioplasticizers for Poly(Vinyl Chloride)

Epoxy fatty acid alkyl ester estolides were synthesized from castor oil to be used as biobased plasticizers for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as a safer replacement for phthalate plasticizers. Initially, castor oil was transesterified with methanol or n-butanol to quantitatively yield castor fatty acid alkyl esters. Acetylation of hydroxyl function with acetic anhydride led to the formation of estolide. The unsaturation was epoxidized, resulting in a bifunctional epoxy fatty acid alkyl ester estolide. The bioplasticizers were compounded with PVC and were evaluated for their functionality and compared with commercial phthalate plasticizer diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and nonphthalate 1,2-cyclohexanoic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH). The bioplasticizers showed excellent gelation, efficiency, and compatibility, as well as plastisol viscosity and thermal properties, comparable to or better than the plastisols prepared with commercial controls DINP and DINCH. The volatility of the methyl ester was inferior to the butyl ester. Both compounds showed low water resistance properties. Further evaluation of the butyl ester under tropical conditions of high temperature and humidity confirmed limited compatibility. This indicates that the castor epoxy fatty acid ester estolides would be better suited for applications that do not come in contact with water for prolonged periods, such as flooring, artificial leather, wiring, or wall coverings.     

Screening vegetable oil alcohol esters as fuel lubricity enhancers

Methyl and ethyl monoalkyl esters of various vegetable oils were produced for determining the effects of type of alcohol and fatty acid profile of the vegetable oil on the lubricity of the ester. Four methyl esters and six ethyl esters were analyzed for wear properties using the American Society for Testing and Materials method D 6079, Evaluating Lubricity of Diesel Fuels by the High-Frequency Reciprocating Rig. Ethyl esters showed noticeable improvement compared to methyl esters in the wear properties of each ester tested. No correlation was found between lubricity improvement and fatty acid profile of the ester, except that esters of castor oil had improved lubricity over other oils with similar carbon chain-length (C₁₈) fatty acids.     

Determination of Oxidation of Methyl Ricinoleates

Ricinoleate esters have desirable properties as biolubricants, but their oxidative stability has been questioned. To systematically study the stability of ricinoleate ester and its derivative, methyl esters of castor oil were prepared and methyl ricinoleate was isolated by solvent partitioning. Methyl 12‐acetyl ricinoleate was synthesized from the methyl ricinoleate by interesterification with excess methyl acetate and was then purified by solvent partitioning. The rates of oxidation of methyl linoleate, methyl oleate and the two ricinoleate esters were measured by oxidation of lipid dispersed on glass beads under three temperatures (40–80 °C). The relative amounts of the unoxidized methyl esters were determined periodically by gas chromatography, and the peroxide value of the oils was also determined. The oxidation rates were determined as the peroxide value increase rate, as well as the ester disappearance rate, and the stability of the various esters was compared. Overall, methyl ricinoleate was much more oxidatively stable than methyl oleate at mildly elevated temperatures, and the acetylation of the hydroxyl group on the 12th carbon decreased the stability.     

Fractionation of castor oil methyl esters by liquid-liquid extraction

Conclusion The phase equilibrium data are presented for methyl esters-furfural-hexane and methyl esters-nitromethane-hexane at 30°C. The hydroxyl values of ester samples obtained from the furfural and nitromethane phases indicate that furfural and nitromethane can be used as solvents for fractionating hydroxy esters from the mixed esters obtained by the methanolysis of castor oil.     

DC-Trennung von Ricinusölfettsäure-Partialglyceriden

Thin-Layer Chromatographic Separation of Partial Glycerides of Castor Oil Fatty Acids Partial glycerides of castor oil fatty acids and hydrogenated castor oil fatty acids were prepared by esterification or glycerolysis and fractionated, together with commercial products, by TLC (especially by two-dimensional technique) on silicagel 60 precoated plates. By comparison of the two-dimensional chromatograms of the partial esters of castor oil fatty acids with synthetic standards, such as partial glycerides of ricinoleic, di- and tri-ricinoleic acids, estolides of castor oil fatty acids esterified to partial glycerides, and partial esters of castor oil fatty acids with 1,3-propanediol, the substances that could be identified were partial glycerides of ricinoleic, diricinoleic and triricinoleic and tetraricinoleic acids as well as partial glycerides, which contained, in addition to ricinoleic, diricinoleic and triricinoleic acids, fatty acids without hydroxyl groups as terminal estolide chain. The TLC enables an insight into the complex character of the glyceride composition of partial glycerides of castor oil fatty acids.     

Fractionation of castor oil methyl esters by liquid-liquid extraction

Summary and Conclusions A solubility diagram has been constructed for methanol-castor oil methyl esters-heptane at 8.4°C. and 24°C. A selectivity diagram has been prepared for methanol-castor oil methyl esters-heptane at 8.4°C. and 24°C. Castor oil methyl esters have been fractionated by continuous countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction at 3°C. and at 6°C. with methanol-heptane and heptane-methanol as solvents, using an extraction column containing four equilibrium stages. The methyl ricinoleate fraction produced compared favorably with pure methyl ricinoleate with respect to hydroxyl value and optical activity. It should be noted that there were undoubtedly some mono- and diglycerides in the castor oil methyl esters used in this study. These go along with the methyl ricinoleate and cause discrepancies between hydroxyl value and optical activity (2). The column feeds ranged from 2.9 to 10.3% methyl esters by weight in methanol-heptane. Solvent-feed ratios were from 0.49 to 1.21 lb. per pound. The flow rates were from 706 to 1,020 lb. per hour per square foot of column cross section (based on the cross section of the empty column).     

Isocyanate-modified dehydrated castor oil

Esters of dehydrated castor oil fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols like ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, pentaerythritol and sorbitol have been prepared. The esters, having hydroxyl value ranging from 78.5 to 167, were reacted with toluene diisocyanate. The scratch hardness and other film properties of the resulting urethanes have been studied. Urethanes obtained from various mixtures of the above esters also have been studied. The best results have been obtained when a mixture of ethylene glycol ester and plenaerythritol ester of dehydrated castor oil fatty acids in the ratio of 4:1 are reacted with one equivalent of toluene diisocyanate. One equivalent of glycerol ester (hydroxyl value 78.5), ethylene glycol ester (hydroxyl value 167), or propylene glycol ester (hydroxyl value 159.4) of DCO fatty acids when reacted with 1.25 equivalent of toluene diisocyanate also gave satisfactory products.     

Rigid urethane foams from hydroxymethylated castor oil,safflower oil,oleic safflower oil,and polyol esters of castor acids

Castor, safflower, and oleic safflower oil derivatives with enhanced reactivity and hydroxyl group content were prepared by hydroformylation with a rhodium-triphenylphosphine catalyst, followed by hydrogenation. Rigid urethane foams prepared from these hydroxymethylated derivatives had excellent compressive strengths, closed cell contents, and dimensional stability. Best properties were obtained from hydroxymethylated polyol esters of castor acids.     

Preparation and properties of urethane alkyd based on a castor oil/jatropha oil mixture

Castor oil is the only major natural vegetable oil that contains a hydroxyl group and so it is widely used in many chemical industries, especially in the production of polyurethanes. In this work, castor oil was interesterified with jatropha oil and the product was subsequently reacted with toluene diisocyanate to obtain urethane alkyd. The prepared urethane alkyd was characterized and its properties were determined and compared with those of the conventional (glycerol/jatropha oil) and commercial urethane alkyds. The castor oil/jatropha oil-based urethane alkyd had a lower molecular weight and viscosity, a slightly lower hardness and greatly longer drying time than the conventional and commercial urethane alkyds, but otherwise the film properties were broadly similar, including being very flexible, with an excellent adhesion and high impact resistance. In addition, they also exhibited excellent resistance to water and acid.     

乙氧基化脂肪酸甲酯的性能及丙氧基化改性研究

以单碳酸或混合酸甲酯为原料，通过一步法乙氧基化反应合成了不同链长的脂肪酸和不同EO数的乙氧基化脂肪酸甲酯(EFME)，测定了EFME的物化性能和应用性能。结果表明，EFME具有低成本、低泡等特殊优点，性能依赖EO加成数变化连续可调整，EFME中的封端甲基是导致其性能不同于AEO的最重要的结构因素。用PO对EFME进行化学改性，先加成PO的产品的起泡力更低、流变性更好，与不改性产品相比起泡力降为原先的29％；稳泡性降为原先的22％；黏度降低为原先的44％。说明PO位于分子的亲水端侧较处于疏水端侧对产品的泡沫性和流变性的影响程度更大，通过PO改性可以进一步开发EFME的新用途。     

Hydrotreating Model Comparison of Raw Castor Oil and its Methyl Esters for Biofuel Production

Some of the main problems during vegetable oil hydrotreating are the high heat of reaction released, the huge quantity of expensive hydrogen required, and the high corrosion rates in the equipment. Some insights into the advantages and disadvantages of processing raw vegetable oils or their respective fatty acid methyl esters are given. The ASPEN Plus process simulator was used for the simulation of a hydrotreating process, with two different feedstocks coming from the same plant: raw castor oil and castor oil methyl esters. That process was modeled with two stoichiometric reactors in series. The technical viability of using methyl esters as hydrotreating feedstock for the production of biofuels such as green gasoline and diesel is demonstrated.     

Antioxidant effect of mono‐ and dihydroxyphenols in sunflower oil with different levels of naturally present tocopherols

Antioxidant properties of mono‐ and dihydroxyphenolic acids and their alkyl esters were examined, with emphasis on the relationship between their molecular structure and antioxidant activity. Test media with different tocopherol level were used for determining the oxidative stability: original refined sunflower oil (total tocopherols 149.0 mg/kg), partially tocopherol‐stripped sunflower oil (total tocopherols 8.7 mg/kg) and distilled fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) as a tocopherol‐free medium. The chemical reaction of tocopherols with diazomethane tested for the purpose to eliminate their antioxidant activity failed due to the negligible degree of methylation of hydroxyl group in the tocopherol molecule. Caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid (3,4‐dihydroxyphenolic acids) and their alkyl esters were found to be more active antioxidants than monohydroxyphenolic acid (p‐hydroxybenzoic acid), 2,5‐dihydroxyphenolic acid (gentisic acid), 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenolic acids (vanillic and ferulic acids) and their corresponding alkyl esters. Naturally present tocopherols in refined sunflower oil proved to have a synergistic effect on gentisic acid but not on its alkyl esters. In contrast, tocopherols showed an antagonistic effect on alkyl esters of caffeic acid, because their protection factors decreased with increasing level of tocopherols in the test medium. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of these alkyl esters decreased with increasing length of their alkyl chain in conformity with the polar paradox hypothesis. Practical applications: Tocopherols as naturally present antioxidants influence considerably the antioxidant activity of other antioxidants added to plant oils used as a test medium. Distilled fatty acid methyl esters prepared from refined sunflower oil may serve as an optimal tocopherol‐free test medium. Some alkyl esters of phenolic acids were evaluated to be applicable as natural more lipophilic antioxidants in comparison with phenolic acids.     

Transesterification of castor oil: Effect of the acid value and neutralization of the oil with glycerol

This paper evaluates the production of methyl esters from castor oil and methanol after neutralization of castor oil with glycerol. The reaction was carried out under atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature in a batch reactor, employing potassium hydroxide as catalyst. Results showed high yield of castor oil into methyl esters after neutralization of castor oil with glycerol. The highest yield observed was of 92.5% after 15 min of reaction. The best operating condition was obtained applying an alcohol to oil molar ratio of 6.0 and 0.5% w/w of catalyst.     

Analyses of lipids and oxidation products by partition chromatography: Hydroxy fatty acids and esters

A liquid-partition chromatographic procedure was used to separate hydroxy fatty acids, their methyl esters, and reduced fatty ester hydroperoxides. Mixtures of methyl stearate, mono- and dihydroxystearate, and mixtures of the corresponding free fatty acids were easily separated. Chromatographic determinations for ricinoleate in castor oils compared favorably with the chemical and infrared analyses. The chromatographic procedure was used to separate hydroxy fatty acids inDimorphotheca andStrophanthus seed oils. The methyl ester of dimorphecolic acid, the principal hydroxy fatty ester ofDimorphotheca oil, behaved like reduced methyl linoleate hydroperoxide and showed a polarity intermediate between methyl 12-hydroxystearate and methyl 9,10-dihydroxystearate. The 9-hydroxy-12-octadecenoic ester ofStrophanthus oil had a larger retention volume than methyl ous hydroxy fatty esters isolated chromatographically. The diene content of the reduced hydroperoxides agrees well with values reported in the literature (1,5,16). The diene content of the chromatographed methyl dimorphecolate is higher than reported by Smithet al. (20) for their preparations but agrees well with the value reported by Chipault and Hawkins (6) for puretrans-trans conjugated methyl linoleate. The extinction coefficient of methyl 12-hydroxystearate at 2.8 μ is higher than that reported for ricinoleate and the absorption band is much sharper. Because of these two conditions no association of the hydroxyl groups is indicated. These results also confirm the purity of the hydroxy fatty esters obtained by LPC. This method has been a valuable adjunct to the study of various oxygen-containing fatty acid and esters and was used to characterize the hydroxy esters obtained from the hydrogenation of methyl linolenate hydroperoxides (9). This work offers a basis for the development of analytical methods to determine the hydroxy and other polar acid content of fatty glycerides and their derivatives.     

Fatty acid composition of castor oil by Gas-Liquid chromatography

Acetylation of fatty acid methyl esters from castor oil makes possible accurate determination of all components in a single run by gas-liquid chromatography with butanediol succinate as the stationary phase.