OLEIC ACID 75% MIN (LINOLEIC ACID 13.0 MAX)

Brief Overview

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated omega-9 unsaturated fatty acid that occurs naturally and may be found in a range of plant and animal fats and oils. While commercial samples may have a yellow hue, the oil itself is colorless and odorless. In terms of chemistry, oleic acid is classified as a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. "Oleic" describes everything related to or originating from olive oil, which is mostly composed of oleic acid.

Manufacturing Process

Oleic acid is typically produced by blending fats like beef tallow, lard, and vegetable oil. The resulting mixed fatty acids are obtained through refining and hydrolyzing oil fat. Cold compression yields both oleic and stearic acid. Subsequent dehydration and distillation processes generate crude oleic acid, accompanied by stearic acid as a byproduct. The collected distillate boasts an impressive 80% oleic acid content.

Soap Industry

Oleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid that improves soap's conditioning and moisturizing qualities. Because it contains oleic acid, olive oil is highly favored by soapmakers worldwide. Several oils include significantly more oleic acid than olive oil, despite popular belief to the contrary. These include the higher oleic Sunflower, Safflower, and Canola oils as well as the more expensive luxury oils Hazelnut, Marula, Moringa, and Buriti oils.

Cosmetic Applications

It functions as a cosmetic emollient, forming an oily layer that preserves skin moisture through the compound's water-binding characteristics. This contributes to maintaining skin health and hydration by preventing the loss of moisture.

Manufacturing Applications

Oleic acis is used in the production of surfactants, which serve as effective cleaning agents to remove clothing stains. Oleic acid is utilized to reduce the surface tension between oil and water in the cleaning process. Additionally, oleic acid is involved in the production of plasticizers, which are substances that soften materials by decreasing their viscosity.

Other Applications

In pharmaceuticals, oleic acid is utilized in minimal amounts as an excipient. It also serves as a solubilizing or emulsifying agent in aerosol products. Emulsifiers play a crucial role in stabilizing the liquid combination of oil and water phases, preventing separation or coalescence.