Vernonia oil

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Vernonia oil is extracted from the seeds of the Vernonia galamensis (or ironweed), a plant native to eastern Africa.

Vernonia seed contains about 40 to 42% oil of which 73 to 80% is vernolic acid. This is about 30% more vernolic acid than the best varieties of V. anthelmintica. Products that can be made from vernonia include epoxies for manufacturing adhesives, varnishes and paints, and industrial coatings. The low viscosity of vernonia oil would allow it to be used as a nonvolatile solvent in oil-based paints since it will become incorporated in the dry paint rather than evaporating into the air.^[1]

This use of vernonia oil also has environmental benefits, since it could reduce emissions associated with photochemical pollution.

In its application as an epoxy oil,^[2] vernonia oil competes with soybean or linseed oil, which supply most of the market for these applications. Vernonia oil has superior qualities in this application, compared to these oils.^[3]

[edit] References

1. ^ T.M. Teynor et al. “Vernonia”, Alternative Field Crops Manual. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
2. ^ A.I Mohamed, T. Mebrahtu, and T. Andebrhan (1999). "Variability in oil and vernolic acid contents in the new Vernonia galamensis collection from East Africa". Perspectives on new crops and new uses: 272–274. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.
3. ^ David A. Dierig. Vernonia. Retrieved on 2006-09-10.