Scientists from India conducted an experiment to determine the kinet
ics of the production of biodiesel. Transesterification of castor oil was carried out with methanol and sulphuric acid as catalyst under different temperature conditions.
The obtained results were analyzed with respect to three types of reaction kinetics and it was concluded that the experimental data followed second-order reversible reaction kinetics.
Researchers from Malaysia conducted an experiment to analy
ze the application of castor oil based polyurethane as a host in polymer electrolyte for electrochemical devices. The synthesized castor oil polyurethane was added with lithium iodide and sodium iodide in different wt% to form a film of polymer electrolytes.
The results showed that castor oil based polyurethane polymer electrolytes can be used as an alternative membrane for electrochemical devices.
CastorOil.in brings you the weekly report of castor seed price at NCDEX.
Check out the table and the graphical data.
An increase in the price of castor seed was observed at the end of the week.
| Price Date | Rupees Per Quintal |
| 06 April | 3622.15 |
| 07 April | 3604.85 |
| 08 April | 3600 |
| 09 April | 3616.85 |
| 10 April | 3656.65 |
Researchers from Spain conducted an experiment to compare conventional and ultrasound-assisted transesterification for the production of biodiesel from castoroil. The results showed that sonicated transesterification leads to higher castoroil methyl ester yield.
The energy required along each type of transesterification was measured which showed that sonicated transesterification consumes lower amount of energy than conventional one.
Scientists from Korea have conducted an experiment to test the effects of castor oil/ polycaprolactone hybrid polyols on the properties of biopolyurethane. Organic solvent soluble castor oil/polycaprolactone diol (PCL) based polyurethane was prepared.
The results showed that the tensile properties and shape memory of castor oil/PCL based polyurethane were enhanced when compared with PCL based polyurethane. The enhancement in properties was due to the increased hard segment portion and cross linking density by 3 urethane bonds formed per molecule in the castor oil/PCL mixed system.
This research suggests that castor oil/ PCL based polyurethane could be used as biobased coating materials.
CastorOil.in brings you the weekly report of castor seed price at NCDEX.
Check out the table and the graphical data.
A decrease in the price of castor seed was observed at the end of the week.
| Price Date | Rupees Per Quintal |
| 23 March | 3666.6 |
| 24 March | 3677.75 |
| 25 March | 3664.35 |
| 26 March | 3651.6 |
| 27 March | 3642.7 |
India’s castor oil exports are likely to increase and hit 570,000 tonnes this year due to an increasing demand from America, China and European Union. The rising demand could affect the availability in Indian market due to the shortage of 
output.
Castor seed for delivery is currently trading at the rate of Rs. 3690/quintal. In the spot market the seed is selling at the rate of Rs. 3565/quintal in Gujarat.
CastorOil.in brings you the weekly report of castor seed price at NCDEX.
Check out the table and the graphical data.
A decrease in the price of castor seed was observed at the end of the week.
| Price Date | Rupees Per Quintal |
| 16 March | 3688.7 |
| 17 March | 3639.85 |
| 18 March | 3625 |
| 19 March | 3648.95 |
| 20 March | 3653.15 |
Scientists from India synthesized a renewable resource based epoxidized castor oil (ECO) and used it as a prime material to develop acrylated epoxidized castor oil (AECO) networks. AECO nanocomposites were prepared by sol-gel method using OMMT clay and silane.
The results showed that AECO/1 wt.% OMMT system increases in tensile strength from 28 to 37 MPa and flexural strength from 54 to 63 MPa as compared with the AECO system, respectively.
BKS, an RSS affiliated farmers’ group have urged the centre to institute a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs. 60,000/tonne for castor seeds.
The cost of cultivating castor is estimated at Rs. 6000 – 7000/quintal. In the last two months, the castor cultivation prices have dropped from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 3600/-. Such low prices export sales depress the castor seed prices and also affect the castor seed growers who are denied remunerative returns. The group has also sent a letter stating the estimates of farmers’ losses due to non-procurement of food grains and damage from rain.