PROCESS FOR PREPARING AND PURIFYING FATTY ACIDS

摘要

There is provided a process for purifying a fatty acid, which process comprises reacting a fatty acid with a lithium salt in a first solution and under conditions to allow formation of a precipitate of a lithium salt of the fatty acid; isolating the precipitate; dissolving the precipitate in a second solution followed by separation of the organic and aqueous layers so formed; and evaporating the organic layer to isolate the purified fatty acid. There is also provided a process for increasing the length of a fatty acid, and the use of a lithium salt to purify a fatty acid.