SYNTHESIS OF A GREEN DETERGENT FROM CASTOR SEED [RICINNUS COMMINUS] OIL

Abstract

This research work reports the synthesis of a green detergent from the biodiesel of castor seed [Ricinnus comminus] oil. The oil was Soxhlet extracted from the castor seed using n-hexane and the oil content calculated on dry matter basis as 38.12%. The saponification value of the oil was found to be 181.152meq/kg, with a golden yellow colour, pleasant smell and viscous feel. The castor oil was subsequently transesterified with eco-friendly ethanol instead of poisonous methanol, using the base (KOH) catalysed process to afford the fatty acid ethyl ester as biodiesel [FAEEs].  The FAEEs was converted to the green detergent by reacting it with conc. sulphuric acid followed by sodium hydroxide. Conventional soap was also produced by reacting the castor oil with NaOH. The following properties pH, foamability, hardness and biodegradability were tested for on the green detergent and soap and compared to detergents “A†and “B†two commercially available detergents in Nigeria as control. The green detergent compared favourably with the controls except in biodegradability where it was better, indicating that an environmental friendly detergent was synthesised from castor seed oil.