Castor Products

Castor oil has long been used commercially as a highly renewable resource for the chemical industry. It is a vegetable oil obtained by pressing the seeds of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) that is mainly cultivated in Africa, South America, and India. Major castor oil-producing countries include Brazil, China, and India. This oil is known to have been domesticated in Eastern Africa and was introduced to China from India approximately 1,400 years ago. India is a net exporter of castor oil, accounting for over 90% of castor oil exports, while the United States, European Union, and China are the major importers, accounting for 84% of imported castor oil.

Castor beans are cultivated for their seeds yielding a viscous, pale yellow non-volatile and non-drying castor oil. Castor beans, the source of castor oil, contain some allergenic (2S albumin) proteins as well as ricin; however, processed or refined castor oil is free from any of these substances and can be safely used in pharmaceutical applications. This can be attributed to its wide range of biological effects on higher organisms. Ricin is found exclusively in the endosperm of castor seeds and is classified as a type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein. Type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins such as ricin from castor oil are lectins, which irreversibly inactivate ribosomes, thus stopping protein synthesis and eventually leading to cell death. This makes ricin a potent plant toxin.

Castor oil is a promising commodity that has a variety of applications in the coming years, particularly as a renewable energy source. Essential to the production and marketing of castor oil is the scientific investigation of the processing parameters needed to improve oil yield. In the recent years, machine learning predictive modelling algorithms and calculations were performed and implemented in the prediction and optimization of any process parameters in castor oil production. Utilization of an artificial neural network (ANN) coupled with genetic algorithm (GA) and central composite design (CCD) experiments were able to develop a statistical model for optimization of multiple variables predicting the best performance conditions with minimum number of experiments and high castor oil production.

As a source of biodiesel, recent studies showed that the biodiesel synthesis from castor oil is limited by a number of factors that include having the proper reaction temperature, oil-to-methanol molar ratio, and the quantity of catalyst. A study using response surface methodology as a model has been used to optimize the reaction factor for biodiesel synthesis from castor oil. Biodiesel production from castor oil is, indeed, a promising enterprise. Advances in models and simulations have facilitated optimization of key processing parameters necessary to obtain good yields of such biodiesel.

Castor Oil Cake is an excellent fertilizer because of high content of Nitrogen, Phosphoric Acid and Potash and moisture retention and it is the prominent organic fertilizer can be used to as alternatives to chemical fertilizer. Simple manure, which acts progressively, encourages soil microbial activity. 100 kg of Castor Oil cake brings to the floor as much nitrogen (N) as 1200 kg of cow dung. The Castor Oil cake has insecticidal properties and naturally pest repellent. It is can be used in organic farming.
Uses:
● Castor seeds without the hull are used for birth control, constipation, leprosy, and syphilis.
● Castor oil is used as a laxative for constipation, to start labour in pregnancy, and to start the flow of breast milk.
● Some people apply castor seed paste to the skin as a poultice for inflammatory skin disorders, boils, carbuncles, pockets of infection (abscesses), inflammation of the middle ear, and migraine headaches.
● Castor oil is used topically to soften skin, bunions and corns; and to dissolve cysts, growths, and warts. It is also applied to the skin for osteoarthritis. Some women put castor oil inside the vagina for birth control or to cause an abortion. Castor oil is used in the eyes to soothe membranes irritated by dust or other materials.
● In manufacturing, castor seeds are used to make paints, varnishes, and lubricating oils.

Industrial Chemicals - Castor oil is a proven competitor in the industrial chemical markets. It is a critical raw material for this market. It is practical, natural, renewable and very versatile, and it has been a staple for the Oleo chemical markets for a very long time. Castor oil has been called on to resolve numerous formulating and processing needs because of its unique fatty acid structure.

Castor Oil is the raw material for the production of a number of chemicals, notably sebacic acid, undecylenic acid, and nylon-11. The production of lithium grease consumes a significant amount of castor oil. Castor oil is also widely used as a bio-based polyol in the polyurethane industry.

Cosmetics - The demand for Castor oil is expected to increase as a result of rapid urbanization, growing middle-class and increasing demand for sustainable products. Increasing purchasing power, growing economic prosperity and affordability of products has resulted in growth in demand for consumer products, such as personal care & cosmetics. The young generation is investing heavily to attaining better looks, grooming and styling. The demand for natural cosmetics & personal care products has been driving innovation in the cosmetics sector across the globe. The demand for cosmetics & personal care products with natural ingredients is expected to rise in the coming years with consumers becoming more concerned about personal care and the ingredients found in them. Moreover, there is a shift in the present trends towards using more environmentally friendly and vegan ingredients in this industry.