Physico-Chemical and GC/MS Analysis of Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.) Seed Oil

The hexane extract of the castor bean seed oil yielded 42.23 ± 0.208%. The physico-chemical characteristics of the hexane extract I reported here were: saponification, iodine and acid values of 123.3 ± 3.428 mgKOH/g , 76.93 ± 0.397g I2/100g and 2.39 ±0.065 mgKOH/g respectively. The Major fatty acids derived from the castor bean oil as indicated by the GC-MS results were Oleic acid (C18H34O2), Palmitic acid (C16H32O2), Stearic acid (C18H32O2) , Undecylenic acid (C11H20O2), Methyl ricinoleate (C19H36O3 ), Behenic acid (C23H46O2), Tridecylic acid (CH3(CH2)11COOH), Nonadecanoic acid(CH3(CH2)17COOH ). The results showed the potential of the hexane extract of the seed oil in cosmetics, perfumery and pharmaceuticals. Keywords: Castor bean oil, Physico-chemical, GC-MS, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals