The local demand for castor oil in South Africa has significantly increased. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an industrial scale production plant in the country. Castor oil processing involves a complete set of Oil Production Equipment, among which oil expeller press is the most important machine.
Can castor oil bean plants be commercialised in South Africa?
North-West University (NWU) alumnus Lesedi Moseki delivered an insightful presentation on the potential commercialisation of castor oil bean plants in South Africa during a webinar held on 9 May 2024.
What is castor oil?
Castor oil is a kind of dry oil made from castor seeds (47%~50% oil content). It does not solidify under -18°C and not degenerate and burn under 500~600°C. The crude castor oil is deacidificated, washed, dehydrated, decolorized and filtered to prepare refined castor oil.
Where are castor seeds produced in South Africa?
The largest factories for castor seeds in South Africa can be found in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. South African domestic production is stable enough to be able to accommodate the local demand, thus most of the castor seeds products consumed in the country are produced locally. Castro oil is usually obtained by pressing the castor beans.