MCT
Medium Chain Triglyceride
Fractionated Oil
Fractionation
Deacidification
Lipase Esterification
C8 C10

The synthesis of MCTs involves the combination of MCFAs and glycerol, often with the help of catalysts, to create the desired triglyceride structure. This process can be achieved through esterification or acidolysis reactions.

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters:

MCTs are often produced from fatty acid methyl esters, which are extracted from sources like coconut or palm kernel oil.

Catalysis:

This reaction can be catalyzed by enzymes (like lipases) or chemical catalysts, such as acid catalysts or metal catalysts.

Acidolysis:

Alternatively, MCTs can be synthesized through acidolysis, where MCFAs are exchanged with fatty acids present in long-chain triglycerides. This process is often facilitated by a chemical catalyst like sulfuric acid.

Temperature and Pressure:

Esterification reactions can be conducted at various temperatures and pressures, ranging from 170°C/40 kPa to 140-160°C.

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Caprylic acid, also known as octanoic acid, is synthesized through the oxidation of its corresponding aldehyde, octanal. This process transforms the aldehyde group (CHO) into a carboxylic acid group (COOH).

Oxidation:

In the case of caprylic acid, the C8 aldehyde is octanal, which has the structural formula CH3(CH2)6CHO.

Process:

The oxidation reaction involves the addition of an oxygen atom to the aldehyde group, converting it into a carboxylic acid group.

Result:

This oxidation produces caprylic acid, CH3(CH2)6COOH.

Oxidants:

Various oxidizing agents can be used, including hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate, and other reagents.

reducing agent (also known as a reductant, reducer, or electron donor) is a chemical species that "donates" an electron to an electron recipient (called the oxidizing agent.

Examples of substances that are common reducing agents include hydrogen, carbon monoxide, the alkali metals, formic acid, oxalic acid, and sulfite compounds.

Citric acid is known for its ability to reduce metal ions, like gold and silver, which is crucial for the formation of nanoparticles.

citric acid and its salts are valuable tools in nanoparticle synthesis, acting as both reducing agents and stabilizers, influencing the size, shape, and stability of the resulting nanoparticles.

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Fractionated coconut oil and MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil are essentially the same thing; they are both derived from coconut oil and contain a high concentration of MCTs.

The key difference is that MCT oil is a specific, concentrated version of MCTs, while fractionated coconut oil is a broader term that can refer to oils with varying MCT compositions.

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Le Chatelier's Principle:

This principle helps understand how changes in temperature, like heating, can shift the equilibrium of reactions involving pH.

Common Ion Effect:

Adding a salt containing a common ion to a solution of a weak acid or base will suppress the dissociation of the weak acid or base, shifting the equilibrium and affecting the pH. This is a direct application of Le Châtelier's principle, where the addition of the common ion is the disturbance.

How pH Changes Shift Equilibrium:

Adding Acid
Decreasing pH:

Increases H+ concentration

The equilibrium will shift to the left (towards reactants) to consume the excess H+ ions.

Adding Base
Increasing pH:

Decreases H+ concentration
(increases OH- concentration).

The equilibrium will shift to the right (towards products) to produce more H+ ions and partially offset the reduction in H+.

MCTs and DHT
Potential DHT Blocking: Some research, primarily in test-tube and animal studies, suggests that MCTs, particularly lauric acid, may inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT.

DHT Synthesis: DHT was initially synthesized by hydrogenating testosterone.

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Why no pH for vegetable oil?

Vegetable oil is primarily composed of lipids (fats) and does not contain water in a way that would allow for a meaningful pH measurement.

Measuring Acidity in Oil:

Instead of pH, the acidity of vegetable oil can be measured by its acid value (AV), which reflects the amount of free fatty acids present. This is often determined by a process called titration, where a solution of known acidity is added to the oil until the oil's acidity is neutralized.

Importance of Acidity:

The acidity of vegetable oil is an indicator of its quality, as it can increase with time and storage conditions due to the breakdown of triglycerides into free fatty acids. For example, virgin olive oils have a relatively low acidity, typically below 2%.

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Glycerol/Glycerin:

This three-carbon alcohol molecule is the backbone structure of all triglycerides.

Glycerin and glycerol are the same molecule (1,2,3-propanetriol), and they form the backbone of triglycerides.

Triglycerides:

These are lipids (fats) composed of glycerol bonded to three fatty acid chains.

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a specific type of triglyceride where the fatty acid chains are medium in length (6 to 12 carbon atoms).