Castor Oil as a Fuel – Prospects and Risks

Abstract

Castor oil is more than just a raw material in great demand by the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. In several southern countries its use as a fuel is also being discussed in conjunction with social and ecological aspects. A few properties, in particular the extremely high viscosity and high water content, complicate the use of castor oil as a fuel for internal combustion engines. Better perspectives may be possible by transesterification and adding this biodiesel to fossil diesel fuel. This however calls for considerably lower castor oil prices than are now being paid on the world market.