Patents
The invention provides a process for the enrichment of methyl ricinoleate from castor oil methyl esters by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) in the presence of refined vegetable oils using an aqueous polar solvent. The invention provides extraction of methyl ricinoleate by a non-destructive extraction method with good yields (75 to 90%) and purity (95 to 99%). The method consists of mixing castor oil methyl esters in refined normal vegetable oil (feed) in a suitable proportion and selective extraction of methyl ricinoleate in a non-destructive manner by liquid-liquid extraction using a polar aqueous solvent, followed by de-solventization and drying of the solute to get enriched methyl ricinoleate fraction with good yields. The non-hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters of castor oil methyl esters are retained in the vegetable oil and can be used for the preparation of biodiesel or oleochemicals or reused in the process for the enrichment of methyl ricinoleate after removal of non-hydroxy fatty acid either by distillation under reduced pressure or further by liquid-liquid extraction using pure solvent.