Buckwheat leaf meal fat. II. Composition of the fatty acids

Summary The composition of fatty acids of the saponified fat of buckwheat leaf meal was investigated. The mixed fatty acids amounted to 49.6% of the composition of the fat. The chief organic acids found were: linolenic, 15.1%; oleic, 13.1%; linoleic, 8.5%; and palmitic, 8.0%. Less than 1% each of such acids as formic, lactic, stearic, arachidic, hexacosanoic, and octacosanoic, and only traces of acetic, lignoceric, and tricontanoic (or higher) acids were found. The so‐called “insoluble acids” of the saponified fat, less the unsaponifiable matter, contained 28.5% (18.5% based on the original fat) of material identified as red pigment and probably a mixture of chlorophyll degradation compounds, chiefly phylloerythrin.