Constituent Fatty Acids of Fats

Much of the published literature concerning the detailed analysis of fatty acids of woody tissue is for a limited, but important, number of pulping species. Nevertheless, a large variety of saturated (normal, iso-, and antiiso-) and unsaturated fatty acids has been reported. In most cases, the predominating fatty acids are 

Although the total amount of saturated fatty acids is usually much less than that of unsaturated fatty acids, some hardwoods have been reported to contain as much as 30% saturated acids (14). Palmitic acid is the predominant constituent in all cases. 

1 Assarsson A, Akerlund G 1966 Studies on wood resin, especially the change in chemical composition during seasoning of the wood. Svensk Papperstidn 69 517-525 

2 Clermont L P 1961 The fatty acids of aspen poplar, basswood, yellow birch and white birch. Pulp Pap Mag Can 62T511-514 

3 Dadswell H E, Hillis W E 1962 Wood. In Hillis W E (ed) Wood extractives and their significance to the pulp and paper industries. Academic Press New York, 21-22 

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