The necessity of using petrochemicals for the development of polymers has been deteriorating because of the depletion in fossil fuels and environmental concerns such as the effect of greenhouse gases, global warming, and increasing population. Research has shown a shift from petroleum-based fuels to plant oil-based fuels in order to shift to renewable resources. Natural oils such as castor oil have shown competitive physical and chemical properties as compared to fossil fuels. The use of natural oils has gained a lot of research interest due to the fact that they are renewable, affordable, and environmentally friendly. Bio-oils are versatile because they have various derivatives and can be used in different grades based on the application in various industries such as agriculture, food, paper, and electronics. Bio-binders have been considered as the most promising materials for the different applications. In this review, the processes of chemical modifications of castor oil are discussed.
Keywords: Castor oil; bio-binders; bio-oil; castor oil industry; chemistry of castor oil.