The occurrence of oleic acid

Subject: The occurrence of oleic acid Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:41 am

Oleic acid is a mono-unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found in various animal and vegetable sources. It has the formula CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7COOH. The trans-isomer of oleic acid is called elaidic acid.
Triglyceride esters of oleic acid compose the majority of olive oil, though there may be less than 2.0% as actual free acid in the virgin olive oil, with higher concentrations making the olive oil inedible. It also makes up 59-75% of pecan oil, 36-67% of peanut oil, 15-20% of grape seed oil, sea buckthorn oil, and sesame oil, and 14% of poppyseed oil.It is also abundantly present in many animal fats, constituting between 37-56% of chicken and turkey fat, 44-47% of lard, etc.
Oleic acid is the most abundant fatty acid in human adipose tissue. As an excipient in pharmaceuticals, oleic acid is used as an emulsifying or solubilizing agent in aerosol products.