Higher Fatty Acid Esters

On-line SFE-pSFC-FTIR was used to identify extractable components (additives and monomers) from a variety of nylons [392]. SFE-SFC-FID with 100% C02 and methanol-modified scC02 were used to quantitate the amount of residual caprolactam in a PA6/PA6.6 copolymer. Similarly, the more permeable PS showed various additives (Irganox 1076, phosphite AO, stearic acid - ex Zn-stearate - and mineral oil as a melt flow controller) and low-MW linear and cyclic oligomers in relatively mild SCF extraction conditions [392]. Also, antioxidants in PE have been analysed by means of coupling of SFE-SFC with IR detection [121]. Yang [393] has described SFE-SFC-FTIR for the analysis of polar compounds deposited on polymeric matrices, whereas Ikushima et al. [394] monitored the extraction of higher fatty acid esters. Despite the expectations, SFE-SFC-FTIR hyphenation in on-line additive analysis of polymers has not found widespread industrial use. While applications of SFC-FTIR and SFC-MS to the analysis of additives in polymeric matrices are not abundant, these techniques find wide application in the analysis of food and natural product components [395]. 

HIGHER FATTY ACID ESTERS Table 15.50 Emery Methyl Esters (63)... 

Crystallization accelerators have been described for PAs. As crystallization accelerators, there are low molecular weight PAs, higher fatty acids, higher fatty acid esters and higher aliphatic alcohols, which may be used independently or in combination. 

Chemical Composition. Wool wax is a complex mixture of esters of water-soluble alcohols (168) and higher fatty acids (169) with a small proportion (ca 0.5%) of hydrocarbons (170). A substantial effort has been made to identify the various components, but results are compHcated by the fact that different workers use wool waxes from different sources and employ different analytical techniques. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made, and it is possible to give approximate percentages of the various components. The wool-wax acids (Table 9) are predominantiy alkanoic, a-hydroxy, and CO-hydroxy acids. Each group contains normal, iso, and anteiso series of various chain length, and nearly all the acids are saturated. 

The higher fatty acids undergo decarboxylation and other undesirable reactions when heated at their boiling points at atmospheric pressure. Hence they are distilled at reduced pressure (15,16). Methyl esters boil at lower temperatures than acids at the same pressure as the result of the absence of hydrogen bonding (17). A procedure for calculation of the vapor pressures of fatty acids at various temperatures has been described (18). 

Sorbitol is the most important higher polyol used in direct esterification of fatty acids. Esters of sorbitans and sorbitans modified with ethylene oxide are extensively used as surface-active agents. Interesteritication of fatty acid methyl esters with sucrose yields biodegradable detergents, and with starch yields thermoplastic polymers (36). 

Besides these normal technical products, many other different types of a-sulfo fatty acid esters have been described in the literature. For example, Weil et al. prepared a-sulfopalmitates and stearates with higher alcohols [19] and also monoesters of polyhydric alcohol [39] and of hexitols and sucrose [40] for their special properties. In addition to the sodium salt, Stirton et al. used other cations, such as Li, NH4, K, Mg, and Ca, to study the relationship between the structure and the surfactant properties [30]. 

Chromatographic methods were developed for the systematic determination of five classes of additives in PE for food packaging [170]. In Soxhlet extractions phenolic AOs and acid amides were determined by HPLC and CGC, respectively. Thiodipropionic acid esters were determined by HRGC as higher alcohols obtained after saponification of the extracts with KOH. Glycerol fatty acid esters and stearates were determined... 

Fatty acid esters of sugars are also very important biodegradable and biocompatible surfactants that are prepared either by transesterification of methyl ester with sugar on basic catalysts or by esterification of fatty acids with sugar on acidic catalysts. Liquid acids and bases have been replaced by enzymatic catalysis with lipase, giving a higher yield of monoester [43, 44], but solid catalysts have not been used extensively so far. 

Hexanedioic acid is used in the manufacture of nylon-6, 6. Esters of benzoic acid are used in perfumery. Sodium benzoate is used as a food preservative. Higher fatty acids are used for the manufacture of soaps and detergents. 

This view of the process of spreading and the conditions of equilibrium possesses certain advantages because many solids such as the fatty esters and higher fatty acids spread upon water and their spreading coefficients can only be determined by a direct measure of the film pressure which exists when equilibrium is attained. 

In order to enhance the potential of synthetic reactions of lipids and the transesterification in organic solvents, a fungal lipase from Phycomyces nites was chemically modified. The promotion of dispersibility in orgaiuc solvents resulted in a much higher reactivity. Chemically modified lipases showed higher reactivity than unmodified lipase when they were utilized for the transesterification of triglycerides and other lipids. The initial rate of transesterification in organic solvents by modified lipase was 40 times faster than that of unmodified lipase. Chemically modified lipase was also found applicable for the syndesis of other fatty acids esters. 

In perfumery, acetates are the most important aliphatic esters formates do not keep well. Animal and fatty notes become more pronounced in esters of higher fatty acids. Acetates of alcohols up to C(, are used principally for fruity notes, whereas the acetates of Cg, Cio, and C12 alcohols are employed for blossom fragrances and for flower notes in general. Lauryl acetate in particular is also used for conifer notes. 

Because the lower fatty acid esters of geraniol, linalool, and citronellol are important contributors to the odor of many essential oils, these esters are widely used in the reconstitution of such oils, as well as in perfume and flavor compositions. The acetates, particularly linalyl acetate, are most widely used. The use of formates is limited by their relative instability. Higher esters are not important in terms of quantity, but are indispensable for creating specific nuances. 

There are several plasticizers for PVC that may be used in propellants. Weil (19) mentions sebacates, phthalates, adipates, and glycol esters of higher fatty acids as being desirable. Dibutyl sebacate, dioctyl sebacate, and 2-ethylhexyl adipate are all good. The plasticizer has a most important effect on the physical properties of the cured propellant and the variation of these properties with temperature. Long chain, aliphatic plasticizers impart improved low temperature flexibility, and hence are preferable to aromatic plasticizers such as the phthalates. An increase in plasticizer viscosity leads to an increase in viscosity of the mixed pro-... 

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