The solid-liquid phase diagrams of binary mixtures of consecutive, even saturated fatty acids

Chem Phys Lipids. 2009 Aug;160(2):85-97. doi: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2009.05.004. Epub 2009 Jun 9.

Abstract

For the first time, the solid-liquid phase diagrams of five binary mixtures of saturated fatty acids are here presented. These mixtures are formed of caprylic acid (C(8:0))+capric acid (C(10:0)), capric acid (C(10:0))+lauric acid (C(12:0)), lauric acid (C(12:0))+myristic acid (C(14:0)), myristic acid (C(14:0))+palmitic acid (C(16:0)) and palmitic acid (C(16:0))+stearic acid (C(18:0)). The information used in these phase diagrams was obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-Raman spectrometry and polarized light microscopy, aiming at a complete understanding of the phase diagrams of the fatty acid mixtures. All of the phase diagrams reported here presented the same global behavior and it was shown that this was far more complex than previously imagined. They presented not only peritectic and eutectic reactions, but also metatectic reactions, due to solid-solid phase transitions common in fatty acids and regions of solid solution not previously reported. This work contributes to the elucidation of the phase behavior of these important biochemical molecules, with implications in various industrial applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
  • Caprylates / chemistry
  • Decanoic Acids / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Fatty Acids / chemistry*
  • Lauric Acids / chemistry
  • Microscopy
  • Myristic Acid / chemistry
  • Palmitic Acid / chemistry
  • Phase Transition*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Stearic Acids / chemistry
  • Temperature
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Caprylates
  • Decanoic Acids
  • Fatty Acids
  • Lauric Acids
  • Stearic Acids
  • Myristic Acid
  • lauric acid
  • Palmitic Acid
  • stearic acid
  • decanoic acid
  • octanoic acid