Unbodied dehydrated castor oil from oil of castor beans cultivated in tropical and sub tropical zones of Pakistan

Commercially-available castor oil was analysed for specific gravity at 25/25 °c (0.959),acid value (0.5),iodine value (85),refractive index at 25 °c (1.4769),viscosity at 25 °c (6.8),and hydroxyl value (162). fatty acid composition,including palmitic acid (1.7%),stearic acid (1.39%),oleic acid (5.73%),linoleic acid (6.25%),and ricinoleic acid (84.2%) was estimated by means of glc. unbodied dehydrated castor oil (dco- 15) 93% was prepared by using sodium bisulphate and sodium bisulphite and other reaction conditions. unbodied dco was analysed for iodine value (139),acid value (3.6),refractive index at 25 °c (1.4820),specific gravity at 25/25 °c and 30/30 °c (0.9333&0.925) viscosity at 25 °c and 30 °c (200 cps & 1.85 poise),respectively. fatty acid composition was also determined to ascertain the extent of dehydration due to the formation of conjugated linoleic acid (cla,36.9%) and non conjugated linoleic acid (ncla,46.8%). ricinoleic acid was estimated as 3.83%. unbodied dco-15 was in good conformance with the standard specification of astm and other values cited in the literature.