Ethanolysis of castor and cottonseed oil: A systematic study using classical catalysts

Several classical catalytic systems for the transesterification reaction have been used to produce FA ethyl esters (FAEE) from castor and cottonseed oils. The effects of the amount and nature of the catalyst, and of the reaction temperature, on the yields of FAEE were determined. The most efficient transesterification of castor oil was achieved in the presence of methoxide and acid catalysts, whereas for cottonseed oil, which has a composition that is much more similar to most vegetable oils than is castor oil, the highest yields of FAEE were obtained following base-catalysed ethanolysis.