Lauric acid is a natural fatty acid primarily found in coconut and palm kernel oils. It is widely used in cosmetics, soaps, food production, and various industries. In skincare, it moisturizes, softens, and cleanses the skin, while also playing an important role in stabilizing and adjusting the consistency of formulations. In short, lauric acid is a versatile compound present in many everyday products with multiple benefits.
Its melting point is 48.8 °C, boiling point is 176 °C, and density is 0.88 g/mL. It is soluble in alcohols, diethyl ether, phenyls, and acetates. Its pKa value is 5.3 (at 20 °C).
Production Methods:
Lauric acid is mainly obtained from coconut oil and palm kernel oil through hydrolysis or fractional distillation.
Chemical Reactions:
- Saponification with alkali: Reacts with sodium hydroxide to produce sodium laurate (a soap raw material).
- Esterification and hydrogenation: Can yield derivative compounds such as lauryl alcohol.
Applications:
- Soap and Detergent Industry: Plays a key role in producing soaps and detergents with high foaming capacity.
- Cosmetics and Personal Care: Used as an emollient, foaming agent, and disinfectant in shampoos, soaps, and lotions.
- Pharmaceuticals / Food: Conversion to monolaurin provides antimicrobial properties; also used as a food additive and excipient in drug formulations.
- Industrial Uses: Applied in the production of surfactants and surface-active agents; also used in peptide synthesis and as a polymerization initiator (e.g., dilauroyl peroxide).