Researchers have performed a new method to produce biodiesel from castor oil. Transesterification of castor oil was performed using coconut oil as a co-reactant and MgO/SiO₂ as heterogenous base catalyst. The catalyst was prepared from rice husk silica and magnesium nitrate by sol-gel method.

Characteristic studies found that the use of coconut oil as a co-reactant significantly increased the conversion of castor oil to biodiesel.

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