Lauric Acid 70% Min

Brief Overview

Lauric acid or dodecanoic acid is the main fatty acid in coconut oil and in palm kernel oil. It is an organic compound with a molecular formula of C12H24O2. It is a white solid with a faint odor of bay oil. Lauric acid is a non-hazardous substance and is believed to have antimicrobial properties. It is safe to handle. Lauric acid is insoluble in water but it can be dissolved in organic solvents. Although lauric acid is not soluble in water, it tends to absorb water from the air that can produce acid causing corrosion in the container if it is in contact with the air. Lauric acid can react with sodium hydroxide resulting in sodium laurate which is soap. Although it is slightly irritating to mucous membranes, it has very low toxicity and so is used in many soaps and shampoos.

Manufacturing Process

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 a 70% composition of lauric acid content.

Pharmaceutical Applications

Lauric acid is utilized for treating patients with viral infections such as the common cold, and swine flu. The compound has the ability to inhibit virus growth, prevent the binding to the cell membrane, and the destruction of the cell membrane.

Food application

Lauric acid is a saturated fatty acid with a single branch 12-carbon atom chain. The compound’s melting point is sufficient to be used as a food shortening. Shortening is mainly used in baking to develop the tender and flaky texture of the food.

Cosmetic application

Lauric acid is used as a raw material to manufacture soap and shampoo. The transesterification process between lauric acid and sodium hydroxide to create crude soap.