Castor prices reduced in spot market owing to higher arrival of the seed. However, the castor prices increased in futures owing to hope of rise in demand in the coming 
days.
About 1.10 lakh bags of castor seed arrived in Gujarat, while about 4,500 bags arrived in Saurashtra. At the Rajkot Commodity Exchange, the castor June contract increased while the castor spot market decreased.
Recent study has found new castor oil based polymeric surfactants.
Polymeric surfactants are polymeric substances which tend to reduce surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved.
Now scientists from China have conducted an experiment to produce castor oil based polymeric surfactants. Dehydrated castor oil was epoxidized using phosphoric acid and acetic acid to produce epoxidized castor oil. Ring opening polymerization 
method was followed with to produce polymerized epoxidized castor oil (PECO) and hydrolysed PECO (HPECO).
Characterization studies showed that castor oil based polymeric surfactants exhibited high efficiency to reduce the surface tension of water.
Recent study finds castor oil sourced copolymers for surface coating applications.
Scientists from India have performed the experiment where acrylic polyols comprising castor oil derived hydroxy functional acrylic copolymers were synthesized by co-reacting 
modified hydroxy functional castor oil with a variety of acrylic monomers. Solution polymerization method was followed in the presence of an inhibitor.
The synthesized resins when cured with suitable amino-resin cross-linkers provided tough, glossy and weather resistant coatings.
Recent study has found the use of castor oil as antistatic and anticorrosive materials.
Antistatic property is defined as the fast dissipation of static electricity (static charge). It is evaluated using two measures – surface resistance and half-life. The lower the surface resistance (Ω), the higher the antistatic property; and the shorter the half-life (s), the higher the antistatic property.
A previous study conducted by scientists from Korea in 2004, has found that waterborne -polyurethane coating materials containing conductive polyaniline blend films showed 
reduced antistatic half-life.
Now, scientists from Korea and India have prepared castor oil-based waterborne polyurethane/polyaniline (COWPU/PAni) conducting polymer blend films. The waterborne polyurethane synthesized from isophorone diisocyanate was reacted with castor oil to form prepolymers. Also, COWPU/PAni hybrid dispersions were synthesized to make different conductive composites.
Characteristic studies showed that COWPU/PAni conducting blend films could be used as antistatic and anticorrosive coating materials.
Recent study finds ferromagnetic zinc oxide nanocomposite as a suitable heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production from castor oil.
The conventional method to produce biodiesel is basic transesterification using a homogeneous catalyst. But this process requires steps of neutralization and washing of the catalyst which increase biodiesel cost.
Some heterogeneous and lipase catalysts are being developed to fight against some of these drawbacks.
Now scientists from India have performed an experiment to synthesise biodiesel from castor oil using ferromagnetic zinc oxide nanocomposite as heterogenous catalyst.
Results showed that ferromagnetic zinc oxide nanocomposite could help to achieve a biodiesel yield of 91% under milder reaction conditions.
Castor oil in water emulsions, also known as fatliquors are used for lubrication of tanned leather fibres to get softness and improve strength properties. Fatliquoring agents are usually obtained by chemical modification.
Now scientists have performed an experiment using nano-TiO2 as emulsifying agent. The fatliquoring agent based on castor oil was prepared using nano-TiO2 as emulsifying agent by mechanical mixing. Thus castor oil/nano-TiO2 composite fatliquoring agent (CTF) was obtained via Pickering emulsion method.
Pickering emulsion method is the process of preparing emulsion that is stabilized by solid particles which adsorb onto the interface between the two phases.
Results showed that the addition of nano-TiO2 stabilized the emulsion and the application of emulsion in the leather fatliquoring process of goatskin garment improved the physical and mechanical properties of leather. Also, CTF was biodegradable compared to chemically modified castor oil fatliquoring agent.
Castor seed prices increased on 9th March due to higher demand from crushers. Moreover, decline in the arrival also lifted up the price at the spot market.
Castor seeds bold and castor oil commercial prices increased due to consistent demand from shippers and soap manufacturers.
Recent study has found the production of medicated soap from castor oil.
Medicated soaps are those used for bathing, and contains additives that helps kill germs and other microorganisms. They can also have other functions like skin toning and age defying effects. Generally all types of soaps are prepared using caustic soda.
Now scientists from Nigeria have performed an experiment to produce medicated soap from castor oil extract. Castor oil was extracted via soxhlet extractor and the characterization studies were carried out. It was found that the acid value and saponification value of the oil were between the ranges of values specified by ASTM.
The soap produced gave a pH of 8.9 and the antibacterial activity of the soap on the bacterial isolate Staphylococcus aureus showed a greater inhibition zone, thus concluding that a highly effective soap can be produced from castor oil.
CastorOil.in brings you the weekly report of castor seed price at Bombay Commodities Exchange.
Check out the table and the graphical data.
| Price Date | Rupees Per Quintal |
| 27 Jan | 3175 |
| 28 Jan | 3070 |
| 29 Jan | 3050 |
| 30 Jan | 3060 |
CastorOil.in brings you the weekly report of castor oil and meal prices at Bombay Commodities Exchange.
Check out the table and the graphical data.
| Date | Castor commercial oil Prices US$/MT | Castor Meal US$/MT |
| 1 Feb 2016 | 948 | – |
| 2 Feb 2016 | 970 | 70 |
| 3 Feb 2016 | 977 | 70 |
| 4 Feb 2016 | 984 | 70 |
| 5 Feb 2016 | 977 | 70 |
