Surface tension of fatty acids and triglycerides

Surface tension as a function of temperature was measured for four fatty acids (lauric, myristic, palmitic, and oleic) and two triglycerides (tricaprylin and tripalmitin). These surface tension measurements were performed using a K12 vers. 3.1 (Krüss GmbH) tensiometer at temperatures from 20 (or the melting point of each substance) to 90°C. The constants for a van der Waals‐type correlation as well as for a linear equation are presented. Both equations are quite accurate, presenting mean deviations not exceeding 0.570%. Such correlation constants are valuable in the design or evaluation of processing equipment, especially that involving gas‐liquid contact such as distillation and stripping columns, deodorizers, reactors, and equipment for physical refining.