doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2005.03.028
Copyright © 2005 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
Received 1 October 2004;
Copyright © 2005 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
Review Paper
Castor oil: A vital industrial raw material
Received 1 October 2004;
revised 24 March 2005;
accepted 25 March 2005.
Available online 24 May 2005.
Abstract
Even though castor oil is inedible, it has long been an article of commerce. This is, in large measure, due to the versatility of the oil. This article discusses the extraction of castor oil and its refining methods and reviews the industrial applications of the oil. Since castor oil is not edible, it could be substituted in many industrial application areas where edible oils are used. An awareness of the various uses of the oil can be used to make a strong case for an increase in its production as a vital raw material for the chemical industries.
Keywords: Castor oil; Raw material