Organic Oleic Acid

Description

Organic Oleic Acid is a fatty acid that occurs naturally in various vegetable fats and oils. It is an odorless,
colorless oil, although commercial samples may be yellowish. In chemical terms, oleic acid is classified as a
monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, abbreviated with a lipid number of 18:1 cis-9. It has the formula
CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH. The term “oleic” means related to, or derived from, oil of olive, the oil that is
predominantly composed of oleic acid.

Fatty acids (or their salts) do not often occur as such in biological systems. Instead fatty acids like oleic acid
occur as their esters, commonly triglycerides, which are the greasy materials in many natural oils. Fatty acids
can be obtained via the process of saponification.

Triglycerides of oleic acid compose the majority of olive oil, although there may be less than 2.0% as free acid
in virgin olive oil, with higher concentrations making the olive oil inedible. It also makes up 59-75% of pecan
oil, 61% of canola oil, 36-67% of peanut oil, 60% of macadamia oil, 20-85% of sunflower oil (the latter in the
high oleic variant), 15-20% of grape seed oil, sea buckthorn oil, and sesame oil, and 14% of poppyseed oil.

Uses

Oleic acid as its sodium salt is a major component of soap as an emulsifying agent. It is also used as an
emollient. Small amounts of oleic acid are used as an excipient in pharmaceuticals, and it is used as an
emulsifying or solubilizing agent in aerosol products.

Oleic acid (in triglyceride form) is included in the normal human diet as a part of animal fats and vegetable oils.

Applications:

1. Oleic acid is used in skin creams to help restore normal skin barrier function.
2. It is used as cleansing agent.
3. It is used as a surfactant and thickening agent.
4. As an ingredient in cosmetics it acts as a moisturizer and provides soft, supple skin that glows with health.

Soaps:

1. Oleic acid as its sodium salt is a major component of soap as an emulsifying agent.
2. It adds conditioning properties and moisturizing properties to soaps.