Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Castor Wax) — Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Hydrogenated castor oil is one of the most important ingredients in colour cosmetics and personal care formulations. In lipsticks, it provides structural integrity, gloss, and adhesion to lip pigments. In mascaras, it contributes film-forming hardness and lash-coating performance. In creams and balms, it functions as a high-melting-point thickener and emollient.

Bio Green Wax supplies cosmetic-grade castor wax with full INCI documentation (INCI name: Hydrogenated Castor Oil), EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009) compliance, Halal certificate, and safety data sheet. Contact our cosmetics ingredients team for a sample and full regulatory dossier.

Hydrogenated castor oil pricing is linked to Indian castor oil commodity prices and hydrogenation processing costs. It is typically priced at a premium over standard castor oil. Bio Green Wax provides competitive current pricing for castor wax in standard and pharmaceutical grades. To receive an up-to-date market quotation, please contact our sales team with your required grade, certification requirements, volume, and destination port.

Volume commitments and annual supply contracts attract preferential pricing. Spot availability is also offered for buyers with urgent requirements. Please share your expected annual volume to receive the most competitive pricing tier.

Hydrogenated castor oil is produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of castor oil, converting the predominant ricinoleic acid (C18:1-OH, approximately 85–90% in standard castor oil) into its saturated form — 12-hydroxystearic acid (12-HSA). After full hydrogenation, the resulting castor wax contains 12-hydroxystearic acid as its principal component (85–90%+), with residual ricinoleic acid content negligible (typically below 1%).

This conversion from unsaturated to fully saturated produces the hard, white wax with the elevated melting point that distinguishes castor wax from liquid castor oil. Full fatty acid composition by GC is provided in the CoA.

Yes. Bio Green Wax supplies pharmaceutical-grade hydrogenated castor oil conforming to USP (Castor Oil, Hydrogenated) and BP/EP monograph specifications. Pharmaceutical-grade castor wax is used as a sustained-release matrix former in oral solid dosage forms, a suppository base component, a topical ointment thickener, and an excipient in modified-release tablet formulations.

Full pharmacopoeial CoA, GMP compliance certificate, TSE/BSE-free declaration, Halal certificate, and complete Excipient Information Package (EIP) documentation are available. Contact our pharmaceutical excipients team for a regulatory support package tailored to your market (EU, US, UK, or India).

0 mg KOH/g), confirming minimal free fatty acid content. The saponification value (SV) is typically 175–185 mg KOH/g, consistent with its 12-hydroxystearic acid dominant composition. These values are important quality indicators for pharmaceutical excipient applications and cosmetic formulation stability. Full analytical CoA including AV, SV, hydroxyl value, iodine value, melting point, colour, and moisture is provided with every batch.

Buyers should share their incoming specification limits so we can confirm pre-supply conformance.

Yes. Hydrogenated castor oil (12-hydroxystearic acid) is a foundational thickening agent in lithium and calcium soap-based lubricating greases. It reacts with lithium hydroxide to form lithium 12-hydroxystearate, the most widely used grease thickener globally, providing excellent multi-purpose grease performance, water resistance, and shear stability.

Bio Green Wax supplies industrial-grade castor wax meeting the quality requirements of lubricant grease manufacturers. We supply in flake, pastille, and slab formats for compatibility with your grease kettle process. Contact our industrial lubricants sector team for grade specifications and pricing.

1mm), indicating a very hard wax. Its viscosity in the molten state (at 100°C) is approximately 25–35 mPas, which is relatively low for easy incorporation in blends and formulations. At room temperature, it does not flow and has a waxy, slightly friable texture when broken. These physical properties make it effective as a hardener in cosmetics, a lubricant grease thickener, and an adhesive and coating modifier.

Full physical property data is provided in our technical data sheet.

Yes. All hydrogenated castor oil supplied by Bio Green Wax is available with Halal certification from a recognised Islamic certification authority. The Halal certificate confirms vegetable/plant origin (Indian castor beans), no cross-contamination with non-Halal materials, and compliance with Shariah processing requirements. Kosher certification is available on request.

These certifications are essential for cosmetics, personal care, and pharmaceutical buyers supplying Muslim and Jewish consumer markets globally. Halal and Kosher certificates are issued per production lot and accompany standard shipping documentation. Please specify your certification requirement when enquiring.

Yes. Hydrogenated castor oil functions as a rheology modifier and viscosity control agent in hot-melt adhesives and solvent-based coatings. Its high melting point (85–88°C) and hydroxyl functionality allow it to improve open time control, tack development, and temperature resistance in EVA and polyamide hot-melt formulations. In coatings, it acts as a flatting agent, matting agent, and anti-settling additive.

Bio Green Wax supplies industrial-grade castor wax for adhesive and coatings applications in flake and powder form. Please share your application specification and performance requirements and our technical team will recommend the appropriate grade.

Hydrogenated castor oil from Bio Green Wax is available in: flakes (most popular format for cosmetics and pharmaceutical compounders), pastilles/prills (small rounded granules preferred for automated dispensing in large-scale production), and slabs (solid blocks for high-volume melting operations). Flakes and pastilles are packaged in 25 kg multi-wall paper bags or cartons. Slabs are available in 25 kg or custom sizes.

Supersacks (500 kg or 1,000 kg) are available for large-volume industrial buyers. Please specify your preferred form and production scale when placing your enquiry, and we will confirm the most suitable packaging format and pricing.

Yes. Bio Green Wax hydrogenated castor oil is produced exclusively from Indian-origin castor oil, as India accounts for over 80% of global castor bean (Ricinus communis) cultivation and processing, principally in the state of Gujarat. Indian castor is not commercially grown as a genetically modified crop, and non-GMO declarations are available for all our castor wax grades. Certificate of Origin (India) is provided with every shipment.

Buyers in natural and organic product markets who require non-GMO declarations for regulatory or label claim purposes can request formal documentation from our compliance team.

Bio Green Wax hydrogenated castor oil carries the following certifications and documentation for cosmetics use: INCI name declaration (Hydrogenated Castor Oil), EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC 1223/2009) compliance statement, Halal certificate, Kosher certificate (on request), vegan/cruelty-free declaration, TSE/BSE-free declaration, REACH compliance statement, non-GMO declaration, Certificate of Origin (India), CoA from accredited laboratory, and SDS/MSDS.

For EU cosmetics brands, we support the Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) documentation process. Contact our cosmetics compliance team for a full regulatory document package.

Yes. Hydrogenated castor oil (12-hydroxystearic acid) is an effective gelling agent and thixotropic additive in solvent-based coatings, printing inks, and varnishes. It forms hydrogen-bonded networks in non-polar solvents and aliphatic carriers, providing controlled viscosity, thixotropy, and anti-settling properties. In printing inks, it improves tack, viscosity stability, and drying behaviour.

In industrial coatings, it acts as a sag-resistance and flatting agent. Our technical-grade castor wax in flake or powder form is suitable for direct incorporation into solvent-phase systems. Contact our industrial coatings team for grade specifications and application guidance.

Hydrogenated castor oil has a shelf life of 24 months from the production date under proper storage conditions. Due to its fully saturated composition, it is highly resistant to oxidative rancidity and is more shelf-stable than liquid castor oil. It should be stored in sealed, clean packaging at ambient temperature (15–30°C), away from direct sunlight and heat.

Although it will not flow or leak at room temperature, it should be kept away from moisture to prevent hydrolysis over extended periods. The fully saturated nature of castor wax also means it is resistant to polymerisation and skin formation. Full storage guidance is provided in the SDS.

Yes. Hydrogenated castor oil is used in textile and leather finishing as a softening agent, lubricant, and surface treatment component. In textile processing, it functions as a yarn lubricant and fibre finishing agent. In leather finishing, it provides surface conditioning, softness, and a subtle sheen to finished leather goods.

Bio Green Wax supplies industrial-grade castor wax for these applications in flake and pastille form, with competitive pricing for mid to high volume buyers. SDS, CoA, and application technical guidance are provided. Contact our industrial chemicals team with your specific application and volume requirements for a tailored supply proposal.

Hydrogenated castor oil itself has a dropping point (ASTM D566/D2265) of 85–88°C, corresponding to its melting point.

However, when used as a thickener in lubricating grease (via saponification with lithium hydroxide to form lithium 12-hydroxystearate), the resulting lithium grease has a significantly higher dropping point of 175–200°C, which is one of the reasons lithium-based greases — thickened with 12-HSA derived from castor wax — are the global standard for multi-purpose lubricating greases.

Bio Green Wax supplies castor wax meeting the quality requirements of lithium grease manufacturers worldwide. Please contact our lubricants team for detailed specification.

Yes. Hydrogenated castor oil blends well with carnauba wax (for added gloss and further elevated melting point in lip products and colour cosmetics), beeswax (for combined natural origin, emollient properties, and structural support in balms and sticks), and other vegetable waxes. Common formulation ratios for lipstick bases include 10–20% hydrogenated castor oil combined with carnauba (5–10%) and beeswax (15–25%) in an oil base.

Bio Green Wax supplies all three wax components individually and can facilitate the supply of custom blend ratios for high-volume cosmetics manufacturers. Contact our cosmetics technical team for a formulation consultation.

Standard lead times for hydrogenated castor oil from our principal supply origin (India) are: 4–6 weeks to European ports (Rotterdam, Felixstowe, Hamburg), 2–3 weeks to Middle Eastern ports (Jebel Ali, Dammam), 1–2 weeks within India, and 4–5 weeks to US East Coast ports.

For European cosmetics and pharmaceutical buyers, we also maintain inventory with select European distribution partners for faster 1–2 week delivery on standard flake and pastille grades. Long-term contract buyers receive priority production allocation and reduced effective lead times. Please share your required delivery date when enquiring so our logistics team can confirm a precise schedule.