Castor oil dehydration kinetics

The dehydration reaction kinetics of castor oil was investigated with sodium bisulfate-sodium bisulfite mixture (SB-SB) or p-toluenesulfonic acid as catalyst. Reactions were carried out at 210, 220, and 230°C, and a kinetic model was determined for each case. The reactions with SB-SB catalyst at 210 and 220°C and with p-toluenesulfonic acid at 210°C followed second-order kinetics. A first-order rate equation showed the best fit to the experimental data for the reaction with SB-SB at 230°C. p-Toluenesulfonic acid-catalyzed reactions at 220 and 230°C were also first-order reactions. Additionally, some mathematical equations were derived between iodine value, refractive index, viscosity, and reaction time.