Evaluation of two Non-Edible, Wild Indigenous Botswana Crops (Croton megalobotrys (Motsebi/Letsebi/Moshoole) and Ricinus communis (Mokhure)) as Potential Feedstocks for Petroleum and Cosmetic Industries

Croton megalobotrys and Ricinus cummunis plants produce high-quality non-edible seed oils at relatively high quantities of 39.65 ± 0.06 % w/w to 53.74 ± 0.04 % w/w. The Iodine values of 85.97 ± 1.62 g I2/100 g to 96.51 ± 1.31 g I2/100 g; the low acid values of 0.96 ± 0.05 mg KOH/g to 5.31 ± 0.76 mg KOH/g; and high saponification values of 139.65 ± 1.06 mg KOH/g to 153.01 ± 1.67 mg KOH/g show that these seed oils can be useful feedstocks in the petroleum, soap, and cosmetics industries. GC-MS results revealed that R. cummunis seed oil is made up of eight (8) fatty acids with the bulk being ricinoleic acid at 81.51 %. Ricinoleic acid is the main fatty acid used in oleochemical industries. C. megalobotrys seed oil is made up of five (5) fatty acids, the most abundant being Linoleic acid which makes up 58.01 % of the seed oil. The other two significant fatty acids in C. megalobotrys seed oil are palmitic and oleic acids at 19.51 % and 18.37 %, respectively. These acids are important as starting materials in soap, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The fatty acids of the two seed oils absorb light at the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. This means that cosmetic products made from these seed oils will be effective in protecting the human skin against ultraviolet radiation. The FT-IR peaks for the two seed oils show that even though these seed oils are made up of different fatty acids, the active sites of their fatty acids are similar, implying that these seed oils can be used as starting materials in similar industries.

Estudo histológico do polímero poliuretano da mamona implantado no ângulo mandibular de ratos

Ricinoleic acid polyurethane polymer behaviour, implanted subperiostic in rat's mandibular angles was studied. liventy Rattus novergicus (Alhinus rodentia mammalia, cepa Wistar) were divided in for groups of five animals each. The polymer polyurethane, added of calcium carbonate, was implanted at mandibular angle of them. One animal from and 90 days after surgery. Histological examination showed the stability of the implant, the almost total absence of inflammatory response, the fibrous capsule formed surrounding the implant, and bone neoformation. According the experimental model, we concluded that the subperiostic implanted ricinoleic acid polyurethane polymer did not unleash a significant later inflammatory reaction, it has took to the development of a districted fibrous capsule, with evolution for bone neoformation. Signals of rejection, exposition or expel of the implant were not registered.

Biodiesel production by esterification of ricinoleic acid over a series of synthesized sulfated zirconia catalysts

A series of sulfated zirconia (SZ) were synthesized and evaluated for catalytic esterification of ricinoleic acid obtained from the castor oil with butanol at 110 °C. The effect of alcohols’ chain length was studied using butanol (C4), propanol (C3), ethanol (C2) and methanol (C1) at 65 °C, and reflux of corresponding alcohol boiling points. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using nitrogen porosimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy. Analysis of ricinoleic conversion was performed using gas chromatography. Sulfuric acid loading improved the surface area of zirconia at a lower dose. The surface areas of the catalysts increased as the concentrations of sulfuric acid solution were increased from 0.025 to 0.10 M, after which the decline was observed. SZ obtained at 0.05 M H2SO4 (0.05SZ) gave the optimal catalytic activity compared to the other series of SZ used. The ricinoleic acid conversion decreased with increase of alcohol alkyl chain from C1-C4 at 65 °C, but increased under the reflux temperature of the corresponding alcohols, with the maximum conversion being 47% at 118 °C for the reaction involving butanol. Overall, the synthesized SZ catalysts are deployable in biodiesel production from castor oil upon optimizing other conditions. Keywords: Ricinoleic acid; Sulfated zirconia; Biodiesel production

Genetic Engineering of Lesquerella with Increased Ricinoleic Acid Content in Seed Oil

Seeds of castor (Ricinus communis) are enriched in oil with high levels of the industrially valuable fatty acid ricinoleic acid (18:1OH), but production of this plant is limited because of the cooccurrence of the ricin toxin in its seeds. Lesquerella (Physaria fendleri) is being developed as an alternative industrial oilseed because its seeds accumulate lesquerolic acid (20:1OH), an elongated form of 18:1OH in seed oil which lacks toxins. Synthesis of 20:1OH is through elongation of 18:1OH by a lesquerella elongase, PfKCS18. Oleic acid (18:1) is the substrate for 18:1OH synthesis, but it is also used by fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) and FAD3 to sequentially produce linoleic and linolenic acids. To develop lesquerella that produces 18:1OH-rich seed oils such as castor, RNA interference sequences targeting KCS18, FAD2 and FAD3 were introduced to lesquerella to suppress the elongation and desaturation steps. Seeds from transgenic lines had increased 18:1OH to 1.1–26.6% compared with that of 0.4–0.6% in wild-type (WT) seeds. Multiple lines had reduced 18:1OH levels in the T2 generation, including a top line with 18:1OH reduced from 26.7% to 19%. Transgenic lines also accumulated more 18:1 than that of WT, indicating that 18:1 is not efficiently used for 18:1OH synthesis and accumulation. Factors limiting 18:1OH accumulation and new targets for further increasing 18:1OH production are discussed. Our results provide insights into complex mechanisms of oil biosynthesis in lesquerella and show the biotechnological potential to tailor lesquerella seeds to produce castor-like industrial oil functionality.