Low temperature solubilities of fatty acids in selected organic solvents

Summary A number of highly purified fatty acids have been prepared and their solubilities determined in six common organic solvents within the temperature range from 10° to −70°. The acids studied were palmitic, stearic, oleic, elaidic, petroselinic, petroselaidic, linoleic, stearolic, arachidic, eicosenoic, behenic, erucic, and brassidic. The solvents used were methanol, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, acetone, toluene, and n‐heptane, representing six different solvent types. A limited study was also made with a series of hydrocarbon solvents in order to note any effects of solvent structure on fatty acid solubility. Data are discussed with respect to their application in separating various fatty acid mixtures by low temperature crystallization.