Studies With Acidulated Cottonseed-Oil Soapstock

IN COTTONSEED, gossypol is found both as “free gossypol” (extractable with aqueous acetone) and as “bound gossypol,” which can be extracted only after acid treatment (Clark, 1928a), whereas in crude oil and soapstock only the “free” form is found (Stansbury et al., 1957). The role of gossypol in relation to the feed value of cottonseed meal and its toxic properties have been discussed by Hale and Lyman (1948) and Altschul et al. (1958), respectively. Recent reviews on the physiological action of gossypol have been published by Eagle (1960) and Adams et al. (1960). The chemistry of gossypol has been reviewed fully by Adams et al. (1960). Of immediate and practical interest to the subject under discussion are the following facts: 1. Gossypol is water insoluble and resistant to sulfuric acid treatment (Clark, 1927), but readily dissolves in aqueous NaOH with salt formation. These salts are insoluble in oil but soluble…