EXTRACTION, CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATIONS OF CASTOR SEED OIL FROM WILD Ricinus communis

The extraction of Castor oil was accomplished by mechanical cold pressing the seeds wild castor plant (Ricinus communis) found in Ini Local Government, Area Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Oil yield 38.69%. virgin (obtained as clear, viscous, pale-yellow liquid) further purified filtration through sintered glass (fine mesh screen). This to eliminate any dust, gum, or other particulates present. Physicochemical characterization revealed low acid value (2.07), iodine (84.18), peroxide (38.00), but relatively high specific gravity (0.959), hydroxyl (163.64) and saponification (175.31) values. These values compare favourably with ASTM standards general specifications for industrial grade (WHC, 2012), suggesting that has good potential. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis confirmed presence major functional groups oil, notably l (3414.12cm-1), carbonyl (1739.85cm-1), olefinic (1659.80cm- ) methylenic (2925.15cm-1 ). Determined fatty composition gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) shows ricinoleic (74.10%) constituent acid. Other acids were linoleic (10.32%), oleic (7.55%), stearic (2.81%), palmitic (2.59%), erucic (1.70%) eicosadienoic (0.93%). appreciable (39.43%) from this seed variety, quality, unique physicochemical characteristics extracted renewable nature a natural resource justify oil’s commercialization full exploitation traditional, well novel areas (e.g. biopolymer biofuel production) application.