Isomerization studies: II. Thermal alteration of oleic acid and methyl oleate in the presence of mineral catalysts

A structure analysis has been conducted on the distillable fraction (67–71%) obtained from the clay catalyzed isomerization of methyl oleate and oleic acid. The method of analysis involved the combined use of reductive ozonolysis, urea adduction, and gas liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The results of this study indicate that the original unsaturation of the fatty acid is mostly retained, but less than the theoretical amount of hydrogen is absorbed when the products are subjected to low pressure catalytic hydrogenation. These results in conjunction with the gas liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry data suggest that branching of the carbon chain has occurred.