Methyl Stearate → Potassium Stearate

Participants

Reaction Steps

44.8 grams of methyl stearate (0.75 moles/mole of sucrose to be used in Step B) is saponified by stirring at reflux in 200 ml methanol containing an equivalent amount of KOH (9.4 grams of 90% purity). The reaction is stirred at 60° C. for about an hour with heating until all methyl ester has been converted to soap as indicated by infrared analysis. The soap solution is used, as is, in the next reaction step.

Provenance & Evidence