Physico-Chemical and GC/MS Analysis of Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.) Seed Oil

Abstract

The hexane extract of the castor bean seed oil yielded 42.23 ± 0.208%. The physico-chemical characteristics of the hexane extract I reported here were: saponification, iodine and acid values of 123.3 ± 3.428 mgKOH/g , 76.93  ± 0.397g I₂/100g and 2.39  ±0.065 mgKOH/g respectively. The Major fatty acids derived from the castor bean oil as indicated by the GC-MS results were Oleic acid (C₁₈H₃₄O₂), Palmitic acid (C₁₆H₃₂O₂), Stearic acid (C₁₈H₃₂O₂) , Undecylenic acid (C₁₁H₂₀O₂), Methyl ricinoleate (C₁₉H₃₆O₃ ), Behenic acid (C₂₃H₄₆O₂), Tridecylic acid (CH₃(CH₂)₁₁COOH), Nonadecanoic acid(CH₃(CH₂)₁₇COOH ). The results showed the potential of the hexane extract of the seed oil in cosmetics, perfumery and pharmaceuticals.

Keywords: Castor bean oil, Physico-chemical, GC-MS, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals.