Bladderpod oil

Bladderpod oil is a seed oil, extracted from the seeds of the "Lesquerella fendleri" and other species of genus "Lesquerella", Native to the plains and mesas of southwestern United States, eastward to Kansas and southward into northern Mexico. [Duke Handbook
sectionurl=Lesquerella_fendleri.html
section=Lesquerella fendleri (A.Gray) S.Wats.] Bladderpod oil is rich in lesquerolic acid (C20:1-OH) which is a hydroxy acid. The only commercial source of hydroxy acid is ricinoleic acid (C18:1-OH), found in castor oil.cite journal
author=R. Kleiman
date=1990
title=Chemistry of new industrial oilseed crops
pages=196–203
editor=J. Janick and J.E. Simon (eds.)
journal=Advances in new crops
publisher=Timber Press, Portland, OR
url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1990/v1-196.html
accessdate=2006-11-19] Essentially all castor oil production in the U.S. has been eliminated by a combination of economic factors, excessive allergenic reactions of field and processing workers, and toxicity of the seed meal.cite web
url=http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/Wilson/481/s98/amy.html
title=Lesquerella pallida - White Bladderpod
author=Amy Rasberry
date=April 20 1998
accessdate=2006-11-19] The fatty acid composition of bladderpod oil is:

Other species of "Lesquerella" that yield similar oils include "L. lindheimeri", "L. densipilia", "L. auriculata" and "L. pallida". "L. fendleri" is of particular interest because of the yields of 1,500 kg/ha that have been achieved in only a few years of cultivation.

Uses

The hydroxy acids contained in bladderpod oil are an important raw material used in the manufacture of resins, waxes, nylons, plastics, corrosion inhibitors, coatings, lubricating greases and cosmetics.

References