Methanol was used to extract stearic acid.
Hydrogenation of the double bond yields the saturated derivative stearic acid.
Shea butter is a triglyceride (fat) derived mainly from stearic acid and oleic acid.
Our results agreed with their findings except in the case of stearic acid, which increased with late planting.
While some stearic acid was extracted from most of the batches, yields are less than those obtained by liquid-liquid extraction for all sample batches.
In addition, important levels of stearic acid (18:0), 18:1 and 18:2 were observed.
The stearic acid was incorporated into the sulphate mineral in the laboratory by precipitating magnesium sulphate from a solution that contained stearic acid.
Various starting concentrations of stearic acid in solution in methanol were precipitated.
