Premium
Composition of castor oil by optical activity
Author(s) -
Bolley Don S.
Publication year - 1953
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02639356
Subject(s) - ricinoleic acid , castor oil , specific rotation , chemistry , organic chemistry , hydroxyl value , chemical composition , composition (language) , optical rotation , fraction (chemistry) , chromatography , polyol , polyurethane , linguistics , philosophy
Summary The optical activity of castor oil and its derivatives has been studied. Pure methyl ricinoleate and methyl acetyl ricinoleate were prepared. The mixed methyl esters and acetylated methyl esters of castor oil were also prepared. By the determination of specific rotation of the pure and technical esters, the percentage of ricinoleate fraction can be deduced. This was calculated to be 93% and 90%, respectively. The esters of castor oil were calculated to contain 91.6% ricinoleate from the chemical hydroxyl value. This was about the average of the two values obtained optically and is believed close to the actual value. A number of castor oils were analyzed by both optical and chemical methods and found to be of nearly constant ricinoleic content. Dehydrated castor oil was found to have a comparative high specific rotation. This was believed due to its estolide content formed during dehydration.