Users' questions

What is palmitic acid in biochemistry?

What is palmitic acid in biochemistry?

Palmitic Acid is a saturated long-chain fatty acid with a 16-carbon backbone. Palmitic acid is found naturally in palm oil and palm kernel oil, as well as in butter, cheese, milk and meat. It is a long-chain fatty acid and a straight-chain saturated fatty acid. It is a conjugate acid of a hexadecanoate.

What are the types of micelles?

Micelles are usually spherical ranging in size from 2 to 20 nm depending on composition. The most common methods for micelle preparation include oil in water emulsion [98,99], solvent evaporation [100,101], solid dispersion, and dialysis methods [97,102].

What is the medical definition of palmitic acid?

medical Definition of palmitic acid. : a waxy crystalline saturated fatty acid C16H32O2 occurring free or in the form of esters (as glycerides) in most fats and fatty oils and in several essential oils and waxes — called also hexadecanoic acid.

Where can you find palmitic acid in foods?

Palmitic acid. As its name indicates, it is a major component of the oil from the fruit of oil palms ( palm oil ). Palmitic acid can also be found in meats, cheeses, butter, and dairy products. Palmitates are the salts and esters of palmitic acid. The palmitate anion is the observed form of palmitic acid at physiologic pH (7.4).

When was palmitic acid found in palm oil?

Palmitic acid was discovered by Edmond Frémy in 1840, in saponified palm oil. This remains the primary industrial route for its production, with the triglycerides (fats) in palm oil being hydrolysed by high temperature water (above 200 °C or 390 °F), and the resulting mixture fractionally distilled to give the pure product.

How is sodium palmitate used in organic products?

Applications. Sodium palmitate is permitted as a natural additive in organic products. The aluminium salt is used as a thickening agent of napalm used in military actions. Hydrogenation of palmitic acid yields cetyl alcohol, which is used to produce detergents and cosmetics.