Hydrolysis of coconut oil

If stearic acid were not available to the rubber industry, other saturated fatty acids such as lauric acid could possibly be used as a substitute even though some cured rubber properties might be affected. Of course, a formal evaluation would have to be made. Lauric acid is derived from the hydrolysis of coconut oil or palm kernels. Oleic acid is probably not as good a substitute as lauric acid because oleic acid contains relatively high amounts of unsaturation, which can interfere with vulcanization and alter the final state of cure. 

The use of pre-column HPLC method for the analysis of fatty acid with 2-nitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride was reported (Miwa Yamamoto 1990). After alkaline hydrolysis of coconut oil free fatty acids are reacted with 2-nitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride and then derivatized to corresponding fatty acid hydrazides. Each of the derivatives was separated on reversed-phase HPLC with isocratic elution and detected at VIS 400 nm (Miwa Yamamoto 1996). In Table 2 is presented the typical fatty acid composition of coconut oil. 

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