Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are defined as aliphatic carboxylic acids.

If the number of carbon atoms is more than six, they are considered fatty, or higher, acids. The number of carbon atoms can be up to 24.

The overwhelming majority of higher acids in the composition of animals (and humans) contain an even number of carbon atoms (due to biosynthesis with coenzyme A) and usually have a slightly branched chain.

Fatty acids chimko.com

Classification

By number of carbon atoms:

  • higher — 13 atoms or more
  • medium — from 8 to 12 atoms
  • lower — 6-7 carbon atoms

By physical state (at room temperature):

  • liquid — formed by unsaturated acids, often called oils
  • solid — usually formed by saturated acids

By the type of bonds between carbon atoms:

  • saturated (for example, Stearic acid) — only single bonds between carbon atoms.
  • unsaturated (for example, Oleic acid) — also single bonds, but with one double bond present. Triple bonds occur occasionally, but this is more the exception.
  • polyunsaturated — has two or more carbon double bonds. Such bonds usually pass through a CH2- group.

Unsaturated fatty acids are further divided into:

  • monoenoic — contain one multiple bond.
  • polyenoic — have two or more multiple bonds — dienoic (two bonds), trienoic (three), and so on.

Natural unsaturated fatty acids have a stereochemical cis configuration.

Natural acids usually have a simple name, for example, oleic. But for chemical understanding, a structural name is also used. For example, for Oleic acid this would be cis-9-octadecenoic acid. This name immediately gives a specialist the following understanding:

  • It contains one double bond, i.e., it is unsaturated
  • It contains 18 carbon atoms
  • The double bond in the chain starts at the 9th atom
  • Relative to this bond, the molecule’s configuration is cis-stereochemical

Fatty acids do not dissolve in water, but are well soluble in organic solvents.

The hydrolysis (saponification) process can occur under the action of water (in which case the process is reversible) or under the action of alkali (in which case the process is irreversible).

Soaps — produced by hydrolysis with alkali. In the chemical sense, “soaps” are salts of higher carboxylic acids. It is these that are used as a cleaning agent. Such water-soluble salts are called “alkaline soaps.”

Water-insoluble salts are also distinguished — usually these are salts of metals such as potassium, sodium, and ammonium, for example, of Oleic or Stearic acid. Such soaps are called metallic soaps.

The addition of hydrogen to the residue of unsaturated acids is called fat hydrogenation. In this process, liquid fats become solid (the melting point increases).

All soaps can be divided by:

production method:

  • polished
  • glue-based
  • kernel

intended use:

  • toilet soap — from acids with 10-16 carbon molecules
  • special
  • household and technical — from acids with 17-21 molecules
  • medical

consistency:

  • liquid — usually potassium salts
  • solid — usually sodium salts
  • paste-like

The final product often includes dyes, fragrances, stabilizers, preservatives, and much more.

Alkaline hydrolysis chimko.com

Alkaline hydrolysis of fatty acids. This reaction is the saponification process.

In addition to alkali, sulfuric acid can be used — in that case the saponification process will accordingly be acidic.

The products of this reaction are higher carboxylic acids and Glycerin.

The resulting acids, under the action of soda (usually Soda ash) or alkali (usually Caustic soda), form soaps.

In the production of fatty acids, natural oils from various crops are used — sunflower, rapeseed, cotton, and others. Soap production technology requires the use of significant amounts of raw material, so technical (non-food) raw materials are also used, for example, paraffins.

The soaps described above perform poorly in hard water. Therefore, detergents made from synthetic products have been specially developed for hard water, for example, from alkyl sulfates (added to laundry detergent) — these are products of the reaction of sulfuric acid with complex compounds of higher alcohols.

The final products with magnesium and/or calcium salts dissolve in water, which ensures effectiveness in hard working fluids.

Ultimately, synthetic components save many thousands of tons of natural products.

You can buy Oleic acid wholesale in Moscow and other chemicals from our company by writing to order@chimko.com or calling us at +7(495)133-02-40

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