IUPAC Name
Dodecanoic Acid
Cas Number
143-07-7
HS Code
2915.90.90
Formula
C12H24O2
Industry
Palm Derivatives
Appearance
White Flakes
Common Names
Vulvic Acid; Laurostearic Acid
Packaging
25 Kg Bag
Coconut oil and palm kernel oil contain lauric acid, also known as dodecanoic acid, a saturated medium-chain fatty acid. It has a faint smell that is similar to bay oil and appears as a white solid. Although it is soluble in organic solvents, it is not soluble in water. Lauric acid is used in the culinary sector as a vegetable shortening and in personal care products like shampoo and detergent.
The industrial manufacture of lauric acid is derived from saponification or the breakdown of fat (triglycerides).
Saponification method: the process utilizes high pressure and temperature to decompose refined palm kernel oil. The decomposition produces glycerine and branches of fatty acid. As various fatty acid branches are present, separation via distillation is required. Based on the fatty acid melting point, the mixture of fatty acids are distilled and the remaining heavy fatty acids such as lauric acid remains and are collected. Additional production such as hydrogenation is required to remove unsaturated branches of the fatty acid.
Various grades of lauric are produced with other impurities of other fatty acids. The purity of lauric acid heavily depends on the distillation process. Therefore, higher grades of lauric acid demand higher energy consumption and sophisticated distillation design. The distillates of this grading are set to have 98% composition of lauric acid content.
Coconut oil and palm kernel oil contain lauric acid, also known as dodecanoic acid, a saturated medium-chain fatty acid. It has a faint smell that is similar to bay oil and appears as a white solid. Although it is soluble in organic solvents, it is not soluble in water. Lauric acid is used in the culinary sector as a vegetable shortening and in personal care products like shampoo and detergent.
The industrial manufacture of lauric acid is derived from saponification or the breakdown of fat (triglycerides).
Saponification method: the process utilizes high pressure and temperature to decompose refined palm kernel oil. The decomposition produces glycerine and branches of fatty acid. As various fatty acid branches are present, separation via distillation is required. Based on the fatty acid melting point, the mixture of fatty acids are distilled and the remaining heavy fatty acids such as lauric acid remains and are collected. Additional production such as hydrogenation is required to remove unsaturated branches of the fatty acid.
Various grades of lauric are produced with other impurities of other fatty acids. The purity of lauric acid heavily depends on the distillation process. Therefore, higher grades of lauric acid demand higher energy consumption and sophisticated distillation design. The distillates of this grading are set to have 98% composition of lauric acid content.
