Radici Chemiefaser, formerly Dorix GmbH, has developed a new bio-based staple polyamide fibre suitable for the production of needle punched non – woven carpet tiles and similar products.
Dorix PA 6.10 has been developed using polyamide 6.10 produced at the Radici Chimica SpA chemical plant in Italy from sebacic acid (64% by weight), a derivative of castor oil and hexamethylenediamine, a chemical intermediate produced in the Radici Group.
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Nova Synthetix, an agricultural biotechnology start-up, based at US,is looking to bring to market a castor-oil plant variety that does not contain a toxin. The company is commercializing a non-toxic castor plant that produces a unique fatty acid in its seed oil which will be used as a high-value chemical feedstock. They are contracting with growers and developing downstream markets for their castor product.
Nova Synthetix, has recently received a $50,000 grant from a private, US based non-profit corporation, named North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
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Evogene, an Israel based plant genomics company , has recently released its second quarter and first half 2013 financial results. During which, the company stated that Evofuel, one of their subsidiaries, whose mission is the development of second generation feedstock for biodiesel, is in the process of completing the third year of field trials for the advanced castor varieties in northeast Brazil. Evofuel’s efforts to introduce a commercially viable alternative feedstock for biodiesel based on castor seeds in Brazil and Argentina seem to be strong on the track according to the press release.
Royal DSM, a Dutch life sciences and material sciences firm, has used the castor oil for its aluminium windows manufacturing.
Royal DSM says its new EcoPaxx polyamide 410, which has a bio-based content of 70%, can help reduce the environmental footprint of aluminium window profiles. The material, used in insulating profiles, is made from a material derived from the castor plant
According to DSM, EcoPaxx polyamide 410 also offers mechanical advantages over other engineering plastics, including a high melting point of 250°C, good hydrolysis and chemical resistance, and lower moisture absorption than PA66.
Read More: http://www.prw.com/subscriber/headlines2.html?cat=1&id=3355
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In India, the ministry of consumer affairs is looking into the alleged conflict of interest issues and claims of huge castor seed and cottonseed oil stocks, in NK Proteins, a key debtor of beleaguered National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL).
NK Proteins, run by relatives of NSEL chairman , owes the exchange around Rs 930 crore. According to the latest stock position filed by the exchange on August 6, the company had 7,553 tonnes of castor oil, 96,581 tonnes of castor seed and 84,766 tonnes of cotton wash oil.
The ministry has received complaints from people who claimed to have visited the facilities of the company. They say the storage capacity of NK Proteins, which makes the Tirupati brand of cooking oils, “is far less than what is claimed.
NK Proteins is one of the 13 processors which have sought 20 weeks’ time to settle the dues with NSEL. Last week, NSEL said that here are 13 members/ processors, who have offered to pay five per cent of their total dues every week, if the same is agreed upon. Total amount comes to Rs 3,107 crore approximately.”
NK Proteins’ dues amounted to 25 per cent of this lot and 16 percent of the overall due of Rs 5,500 crore.
“The complaint also raised the issue of whether indeed there was stock and why do the processors need five months. The commodities can be easily sold within a month. In the worst case scenario, they would face a loss in price difference only was the argument put out by complainants,” the ministry officials said.
It would be extremely naïve on NSEL’s part to have had the confidence of storing such a huge quantity of stock within the premises of NK Proteins, the complainants are said to have suggested.
“Anyone who has visited the factory will laugh on hearing that there is a stock of 84,766 tonnes of cottonseed oil in there. This is because the total storage capacity of this factory is just 5,000 tonnes, let alone two tanks which NSEL claims to be storing this stock,” one of the complaints said.
According to the NSEL stock position dated August 6, the cotton oil stock, which is worth Rs 530.63 crore, was stored in two tanks in an NK Proteins facility in Thor in Mehasana district of Gujarat. NK Proteins officials were not available for comment.
In the current day world, as fossil fuel demands continue to peak in a regular way, people look for alternate options especially the renewable oils which has a great tendency to produce a positive impact in the transportation sector. Although different vegetable oils are proven to act as sources for bio-fuel synthesis,several find constraints due to their extensive applications as vital ingredients in food. However, castor oil being under the non-edible oil class, turns to be a gifted candidate in this regard for ready exploitation to feed the locomotive engines.
Recently, an Argentinian oil company Oil Fox has come with an overseas initiative to produce biodiesel from castor and algae in Columbia. According to the spokesman from the producer firm, they plan to commission a production facility for 500 million litres on an annual basis with an investment over US$ 150 million. They further indicate that the plant will function in collaboration with two academic institutes and a local firm for technical and raw material procurement support respectively. It is interesting to see that the company concerned has already been in castor biodiesel production business in Argentina since 1999.
Castor plant seems to be an appropriate choice not only due to its non-edible nature but also for its inherent property to grow on marginal lands under rain-fed conditions.Hence it has a capability to create sustainable biodiesel operation right from farmers’ field to industrial and consumer environments. Also when the final product from castor oil is optimized well to suit the demands of engines, castor bean shall be a good oilseed crop for these natural wealth rich South American nations where cultivation of it is already in practice.
For reference: http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?monthyear=&day=11&id=56041&l=e&special=&ndb=1%20target=
In a world with an ever increasing focus on green products for people planet and profits (PPP), castor oil turns out to be an elite candidate to satisfy PPP. Recently Interface company came out with a bio-product, carpet tile and the manufacturer points that its new launch is basically an yarn with nylon blend, based of castor oil. In addition, developers strongly argue that the product is consistent in its performance to address consumer expectations and thus will encourage their “Mission Zero” aim to replace petrochemical principles by 2020 from their product portfolios. The company’ reports regarding the supply chain also state the beneficial outcomes that castor plant can yield to farmers growing it on marginal lands.
It is evident that bio based carpet tile’ market performance on time would boost the innovative minds to develop it for mutual benefits of growers and firm on an extensive scale. To conclude, castor oil often known as an industrial oil for lubrication and polymers production keeps widening its application spectrum, truly a demanding feature for those who strive for quality, novelty and greening of products.
For reference: http://www.zawya.com/story/Interface_unveils_Fotosfera_its_first_product_made_from_biobased_nylon-ZAWYA20120917073331/
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It is obvious to us that several plants act as excellent sources of chemicals with medicinal value which dwell either in a definite organ or whole bio-system.Castor seed oils are not an exception to this storage nature of plants where constituents in it tend to display therapeutic activities to cure the physical discomforts directly or indirectly.
With continued scope for natural products in global pharma divisions, a recent press release from firm, Morinda Bioactives, USA which it claims to be specialized in formulation of drugs on phyto-chemicals has reported that its launch of a new stream of drugs called Shield Biomedicals at International Leadership Conference Salt Lake City, Utah, contain castor oil derived chemicals as base ingredients to contribute for moisture retention function. As per the manufacturer’ statement, their ointment formulation with castor oil is a home remedy to wounds and burns etc with pain relieving properties.
Information source such as this keeps boosting the potential of castor oil in high value market sectors which the producer nations should realize well to upgrade their line of products from this vegetable oil, gifted for industries.
For reference: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/10/4480034/morinda-bioactives-releases-new.html
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Industrially vital Castor plant continues to expand its geographical horizon in Asiatic agro zones with business proposals to develop from it a stable supply chain for demands and sustainability. It can be exemplified from Cambodia where a 10 year business development plan to establishment a firm called “Adalidda Castor”, the first of its type, will be operating on integrated supply chain aspects of Castor cultivation and oil extraction etc. Project developers have indicated that the cost for establishment of firm would be US$ 16 million and initiatives include castor cultivation on 20,000 hectares of land, oil processing and contact farming with locals. This Castor project is a joint venture between a consultancy in Cambodia and a venture capital company according to sources and execution of it would be made in two phases.
It is exciting to note that “Adalidda Castor” project has provisions for crop management by software systems and optimistic developers of the study say that benefits could be reaped through direct employment for 719 people, revenues for 20,000 households in contract farming, capacity building for farm workers and their families through education and medical facilities, apart from principal investors and other stakeholders’ advantages in the supply chain.
For reference: http://www.ongreen.com/sites/ongreen.com/files/business_plan-adalidda_castort-january_2012.pdf
Castor oil as we know a reputed raw material for industrial chemicals is often cultivated and processed in fields and oil mills respectively with synthetic inputs to make it available in bulk with desired properties. However, such pretreatments are longer a valid aspect when oil with quality and sustainability is required for certain subset of applications as production of pure natural cosmetics and related skin care products. This conditional demand faced by Wala Heilmittel GmbH, a German firm to market its completely natural skin products based of cold pressed castor oil had made it to formulate an approach of synthetic components free, organic castor oil exchange with India, involving mutual benefits for growers, processors and consumers. Christine Ellinger, a scientific representative of the firm initiated her actions via contacts with an Indian NGO called Satvik which then functioned with team of eco-minded farmers in cultivation of crops. Her financial assistance to NGO’ advisory council and efforts of Institute of Market Ecology (IMO) certification for product quality successfully boosted up the cultivation of organic castor and the agenda of German firm reached up its peak with co-ordinated assistance from a like minded castor oil entrepreneur, Mr:Nanalal Satra in Gujarat whose dedicated processing facility for organic castor oil production yielded the German raw material of choice ultimately from India.
The face of organic oil cultivation did not wipe off with German initiatives in India but has steadily grown today to a level of 277 tons of castor beans on approximately 1,175 hectares of land with oil yields in excess to supply other prospective companies. The outcomes so far have been fruitful with social and environmental responsibilities and significantly created economic independence for farmers, especially those in Northern arid regions of Kutch who suffered a nightmare in the earthquakes of Gujarat in 2001.
For reference: http://www.wala.de/english/quality/cultivation-projects/organic-castor-oil-from-india/