Polymerization of unsaturated fatty acids

Summary A method is proposed for the preparation of polybasic fat acids or “dimer” acids directly from fatty acids which is readily adaptable to commercial use. The presence of moisture maintained in the reaction vessel by steam pressure substantially prevents decomposition and decarboxylation of the fatty acids. By this method a larger percentage of dibasic acids, as compared to tribasic acids, is produced than by the previously described methods. The method of high temperature polymerization of fatty acids in the presence of moisture is also used to remove polyunsaturated fatty acids from commercial oleic acid.