Premium Castor Oil Manufacturer | Industrial & Cosmetic Grades | Nova Industries

Castor Oil – Renewable Bio-Polyol from Ricinus communis

Nova Industries – Castor Oil & Derivatives Manufacturer | Gujarat, India

Castor oil is a highly functional vegetable oil obtained from the seeds of the castor plant (Ricinus communis). It is unique among natural oils because around 85–90% of its fatty acid content is ricinoleic acid, which contains a hydroxyl group. This gives castor oil natural polyol functionality, making it a key feedstock for polyurethanes, polyamides, lubricants, coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals.

🏭 1. Manufacturing Process – From Seed to Refined Castor Oil

1.1 Raw Material & Preparation

  • Raw material: Clean, mature castor seeds with oil content typically between 45–55%.

  • Cleaning & decortication: Removal of dust, stones, metals, and husk to improve oil quality and protect machinery.

  • Conditioning: Gentle heating and moisture adjustment of kernels to improve pressing efficiency and oil yield.

1.2 Oil Extraction

a) Mechanical pressing

  • Conditioned castor kernels are fed into screw presses (expellers) or hydraulic presses.

  • First pressing yields crude castor oil and press cake.

  • Press cake can be re-pressed to recover additional oil.

b) Optional solvent extraction

  • In large industrial plants, remaining oil in the cake is extracted with solvent (commonly technical-grade hexane).

  • Solvent is recovered in a closed system and recycled.

  • Extracted oil is then combined with pressed oil for refining.

1.3 Refining

  1. Settling and filtration

    • Removal of suspended solids and impurities from crude oil.

  2. Degumming

    • Treatment with water or weak acid to remove phospholipids, gums, and mucilage.

  3. Neutralization (alkali refining)

    • Reaction with alkali (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to reduce free fatty acids (FFA) and form easily removable soaps.

  4. Washing and drying

    • Washing to remove soaps and traces of alkali, followed by drying to reduce moisture.

  5. Bleaching

    • Treatment with activated clay/earth or carbon to reduce color bodies and residual impurities.

  6. Deodorization (for refined / cosmetic / pharma grades)

    • Steam stripping under vacuum to remove odor-causing volatile components while protecting the oil.

  7. Final filtration and polishing

    • Ensures bright, clear oil ready for packing and export.

1.4 Technologies Used

  • Seed cleaners, dehullers, and conditioners

  • Mechanical expeller presses

  • Solvent extraction units (where installed)

  • Degumming and alkali-refining kettles

  • Vacuum dryers and bleaching systems

  • Deodorization columns and polishing filters

1.5 Key Quality Parameters

  • Moisture and volatile matter

  • Acid value (free fatty acids)

  • Hydroxyl value (ricinoleic functionality)

  • Iodine value (degree of unsaturation)

  • Saponification value

  • Color and clarity

  • Insoluble impurities

Nova Industries maintains strict control of these parameters to deliver stable, low-acid, low-moisture castor oil suitable for demanding industrial and specialty applications.

🏭 2. Applications & Industries

Castor oil is a platform raw material used in a wide range of industries and derivative chemistries.

2.1 Chemical & Polymer Industry

  • Polyols for polyurethane foams, coatings, and elastomers

  • Feedstock for polyamides based on sebacic acid and other intermediates

  • Building block for bio-based resins, plasticizers, and specialty polymers

2.2 Derivatives & Castor-Based Specialties

  • Base oil for manufacturing:

    • Ricinoleic Acid

    • 12-Hydroxy Stearic Acid (12HSA)

    • Hydrogenated Castor Oil (HCO / castor wax)

    • Sebacic Acid and Undecylenic Acid

    • Various esters and estolides used in lubricants and plasticizers

2.3 Paints, Coatings & Inks

  • Raw material for alkyd resins

  • Wetting and dispersing aid for pigments

  • Improves flow, leveling, flexibility, and gloss in coatings and inks

2.4 Lubricants & Hydraulics

  • Base oil for high-viscosity, high-film-strength lubricants

  • Used in hydraulic fluids, brake fluids, gear oils, and special-purpose lubricants

  • Suitable where stable viscosity, high flash point, and strong lubricity are required

2.5 Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic

  • In appropriate grade, used as a laxative and as a vehicle for active pharmaceutical ingredients

  • Emollient and conditioning oil in skin and hair care products

  • Common in hair oils, serums, soaps, lip balms, creams, and ointments

2.6 Soaps, Surfactants & Waxes

  • Feedstock for sulfated castor oil (Turkey Red Oil) and other surfactants

  • Used to produce hydrogenated castor waxes for polishes, cosmetics, and specialty coatings

⭐ 3. Benefits of Castor Oil

3.1 Performance Advantages

  • Natural polyol functionality: High hydroxyl value from ricinoleic triglycerides makes castor oil ideal for polyurethane and polyester chemistry.

  • High viscosity and film strength: Excellent for lubricants, coatings, and thick, stable emulsions.

  • Superior wetting and dispersing: High polarity provides excellent pigment and surface wetting.

  • Non-drying but stable: Classified as a non-drying oil, giving flexibility and reduced brittleness in many film and polymer systems.

3.2 Functional & Technical Benefits

  • Readily reacts with isocyanates, anhydrides, and acids to form polyurethanes, esters, and polyesters.

  • High flash point and boiling point support use in high-temperature and long-life applications.

  • Good compatibility with many resins, polymers, and other oils.

3.3 Commercial Benefits

  • Established global commodity with reliable, scalable supply.

  • Renewable and biodegradable, supporting green product positioning.

  • One oil serves as the base for many value-added derivatives, reducing raw material complexity for users.

⚙️ 4. Technical & Premium Quality Details

4.1 Typical Technical Properties*

(*Indicative values; exact specs depend on grade.)

  • Chemical nature: Triglyceride oil rich in ricinoleic acid

  • Appearance: Pale yellow, clear, viscous liquid

  • Specific gravity (at 25°C): approximately 0.95–0.97

  • Viscosity (at 25°C): high, typically around 250–300 cSt (grade dependent)

  • Acid value (refined grade): ≤ 2.0 mg KOH/g (lower for premium grades)

  • Iodine value: approximately 80–90 g I₂/100 g

  • Saponification value: approximately 175–190 mg KOH/g

  • Hydroxyl value: approximately 160–180 mg KOH/g

  • Moisture and volatile matter: low, controlled for stability

4.2 Purity Parameters for Premium Nova Grade

  • Very low free fatty acid content

  • Light color suitable for cosmetic and specialty coating applications

  • Narrow, controlled hydroxyl value range for predictable polyol performance

  • Low moisture, low insoluble impurities, and good oxidative stability

4.3 Quality Benchmarks

  • Consistent analytical values from batch to batch

  • High ricinoleic triglyceride content confirmed by established analytical methods

  • Ability to meet tighter customer-specific specifications for pharma, cosmetic, and polymer applications when required

📦 5. Key Specifications & Features

5.1 Standard Specifications

Typical specifications cover:

  • Acid value

  • Hydroxyl value

  • Iodine value

  • Saponification value

  • Moisture and volatile matter

  • Insoluble impurities

  • Color (Hazen or Gardner scale)

  • Density and viscosity

5.2 Major Grades from Nova Industries

  • Commercial / Industrial Grade – for general chemical and industrial use

  • FSG (First Special Grade) – widely accepted global export standard

  • PPG (Pale Pressed Grade) – lighter color, refined for more sensitive industrial uses

  • FPD (First Pressed Degummed) – high-quality degummed oil for further processing

  • Pharma / Cosmetic Grade – refined, low odor, low color oil for pharmaceutical and personal care applications

5.3 Physical & Chemical Characteristics

  • Non-drying, viscous vegetable oil

  • Polar due to hydroxyl-functional fatty acids

  • Insoluble in water; soluble in many alcohols and organic solvents

  • High flash and boiling points support demanding applications in lubricants and fluids

🏆 6. Why Choose Nova Industries

6.1 Integrated Castor Value Chain

  • Located in Gujarat, India, one of the world’s most important castor-growing regions.

  • Integrated operations from seed sourcing and oil extraction to derivative production, offering strong supply security.

6.2 Quality Control Systems

  • In-house laboratory testing each batch for:

    • Acid, iodine, hydroxyl, and saponification values

    • Moisture and insoluble impurities

    • Color, clarity, and other key parameters

  • Certificates of Analysis (CoA) provided for every shipment.

6.3 Manufacturing Excellence

  • Modern expeller and refining equipment

  • Controlled processing temperatures to preserve functionality and minimize degradation

  • Clear segregation between grades for industrial vs. refined and sensitive applications

6.4 Global Customer Trust

  • Long-term supply relationships with:

    • Chemical and polymer manufacturers

    • Lubricant, coating, and adhesive producers

    • Cosmetic and personal care brands

  • Strong export experience with reliable logistics and documentation support.

🌍 7. Environmental & Sustainability Points

  • 100% renewable – derived from annually grown castor seeds.

  • Castor is a non-food crop, generally grown on marginal and semi-arid land, reducing competition with food crops.

  • Well-suited to low-input cultivation, often requiring relatively modest water and fertilizer.

  • Castor oil and its major derivatives are readily biodegradable, helping reduce long-term environmental impact.

  • Lower life-cycle carbon footprint compared with many fossil-based alternatives.

  • Supports customers’ sustainability, bio-based content, and ESG commitments.

⚙️ 8. High Performance

  • High viscosity and polarity give excellent lubricity, film strength, and load-carrying capacity in lubricants and greases.

  • High flash and boiling points make castor oil suitable for high-temperature and long-service fluids and systems.

  • In polymers and coatings, castor oil and derivatives contribute:

    • Flexibility and toughness

    • Adhesion and impact resistance

    • Chemical resistance and durability

  • Maintains or improves performance in many formulations while increasing bio-based content.

🔍 9. Additional Value-Added Information

9.1 Packaging

  • Steel or HDPE drums (typically around 190–200 kg net)

  • IBC containers (approximately 1000 kg)

  • Bulk supply in flexi tanks or ISO tanks for high-volume customers

9.2 Storage Guidelines

  • Store in a clean, dry, well-ventilated warehouse.

  • Protect from direct sunlight, excessive heat, and moisture.

  • Keep containers tightly closed when not in use.

  • Avoid prolonged contact with reactive metals that may catalyze oxidation.

9.3 Shelf Life

  • Typical shelf life: up to 24 months in unopened, original containers when stored under recommended conditions.

9.4 Safety & Handling

  • Generally low hazard under normal industrial handling.

  • Use standard PPE: gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing where necessary.

  • Follow good industrial hygiene practices and refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for detailed guidance.

Nova Industries supplies high-quality castor oil grades engineered for consistency, performance, and sustainability across chemical, polymer, lubricant, coating, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications.

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