Abstract
The main thickening agent or soap in multipurpose grease, lithium 12-hydroxystearate, is a chemical commodity for the auto industry. This compound is obtained from castor oil via a series of chemical transformations. The first step, hydrogenation of castor oil, has been developed into a laboratory experiment for second-year undergraduate organic chemistry. Students are introduced to catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) as a method to reduce a carbon–carbon double bond in ricinoleic acid, the main fatty acid in castor oil. Students perform a comparative analysis based on calculation of several green metrics: atom economy, E factor, reaction mass efficiency, CO2 emissions, and costs. The product, hydrogenated castor oil, is characterized by several techniques: 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy, and melting point.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
