Abstract
Reactions of urea adduct formation were performed with linseed, safflower and rice bran fatty acids by using 49% urea solutions the pH of which were previously adjusted at 3.5.
Non adduct fatty acids containing a lesser amount of saturated acids were obtained without solvent washing of adducts.
Increase in the urea/fatty acid ratio, decreased the yields of non adduct fatty acids, and their iodine value became higher, but the maximum iodine value was limited for the reason that the yield of the non adduct fatty acids became zero.
By using the method, linoleic acid of 85.9% purity was obtained from safflower fatty acid in a 52.6% yield without solvent washing process and it was 81.5% yield with solvent washing.
Furthermore, the urea addition reaction was accelerated to be completed within 1.5 minutes by using a high shear agitator. Authors could have a prospect to perform the reaction continuously on a commercial scale without using any solvent.
