Docosanoic Acid → Sodium Behenate

Participants

Reaction Steps

8.5 g of behenic acid were dissolved under heating in 150 ml of ethanol with stirring and to the solution was added dropwise a 100 ml aqueous sodium hydroxide solution containing 1 g of sodium hydroxide under heating with stirring to give sodium behenate. Then, 200 ml of hot water were added thereto and the sodium behenate was completely dissolved with continuation of heeating and stirring. Subsequently, an aqueous nitric acid acidic solution containing silver nitrate in an amount equimolar to the behenic acid used was added dropwise under heating with stirring to convert the sodium behenate dissolved to insoluble silver behenate. The silver behenate thus obtained was recovered by filtration and repeatedly washed with hot water and hot ethanol, followed by drying.

Provenance & Evidence