Prospects of castor (Ricinus Communis L.) genotypes for biodiesel production 

Abstract

The search of suitable non-edible crop for biodiesel production has led to exploration of potential of castor for biodiesel production. India ranked topmost in the castor oil production in world. Six hybrid genotypes and one variety of castor were studied for the suitability for biodiesel. The seed characteristics, oil characteristics and fatty acid profile were evaluated under the study. The value of biodiesel traits were then computed. The ricinolic acid varied from 84.30-87.80 %. Under the present study the ricinolic acid content was significantly negatively correlated with palmitic fatty acid (r=-0.953**); stearic fatty acid (r=-0.809*); oleic fatty acid (r=-0.811**) and linoleic fatty acid (r=-0.891**). The oil stability index (O/L ratio) and O/R ratio (for oxidative stability) were also computed. In the present study, the castor genotypes evaluated have met the specification of Cetane number (CN) ( <65) and Iodine value (IV) (<115) of biodiesel standards.