Urea adducts of mono‐ and diesters of fatty acids

Summary The experimental work has shown how molecular configurations of fatty acid glycerides affect urea complex formation. Extraction data indicate that urea will form a complex with glycerol monopalmitate, monostearate, and mono‐oleate but not under these conditions with glycerol monolinoleate or monolinolenate from mixtures containing these monoesters. Data also indicate that it is easier for urea to form a complex with monoglycerides than with diglycerides. In a mixture containing mono‐ and diglycerides of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, urea will separate first on the basis of saturation, then secondly on the basis of the degree of esterification of the glycerol.