Methyl ricinoleate

Methyl Ricinoleate is an ester that is derived from ricinoleic acid and methanol. It is a pale yellow liquid that is used in a variety of industrial applications, including as a plasticizer, a lubricant, and a surfactant.

Chemical Structure

Methyl Ricinoleate has the chemical formula C19H36O3. It is an ester, which means it is formed by the reaction of an acid and an alcohol. In this case, the acid is ricinoleic acid, which is a hydroxy acid derived from castor oil, and the alcohol is methanol.

Properties

Methyl Ricinoleate is a pale yellow liquid at room temperature. It has a mild, characteristic odor. It is soluble in most organic solvents, but is insoluble in water. It has a high boiling point and a relatively low freezing point, which makes it useful in a variety of industrial applications.

Uses

Methyl Ricinoleate is used in a variety of industrial applications. It is used as a plasticizer in the production of plastics, as a lubricant in various mechanical processes, and as a surfactant in the formulation of detergents and other cleaning products. It is also used in the production of biodiesel.

Production

Methyl Ricinoleate is produced by the esterification of ricinoleic acid with methanol. This reaction is typically carried out in the presence of a strong acid catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. The resulting product is then purified by distillation.

Safety

Methyl Ricinoleate is generally considered to be safe for use in industrial applications. However, like all chemicals, it should be handled with care. It can cause irritation to the skin and eyes, and ingestion can cause gastrointestinal upset.

See Also

• Ricinoleic Acid
• Methanol
• Ester
• Plasticizer
• Lubricant
• Surfactant

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