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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120406
Title: COMPLEX ESTOLIDES OF CUPHEA AND OLEIC FATTY ACIDS

Author
item Cermak, Steven - Steve
item Isbell, Terry

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/16/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cuphea is a new crop that has be grown throughout the Midwest. Cuphea produces medium chain fatty acids which are similar to those produced by coconut and palm kernel oils. The development of a new crop often depends on the synthesis of novel compounds. Estolides are one such derivative of new crop oils which show promise in industrial applications. Estolides are formed when the carboxylic acid functionality of one fatty acid links to the site of unsaturation of another fatty acid to form esters. Estolides were derived from a number of unsaturated fatty acids in the presence of varying equivalents of acid with no solvent with varying temperatures. The estolides were converted to their corresponding hydroxy fatty acid and the degree of polymerization was determined by GC analysis. The free acid estolides were then converted to the esters under standard conditions. Physical properties (pour points, viscosities) of these estolide acids and esters were compared to previous reported estolides, which have current industrial applications.