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Discussion Cont.: The Isolation of Trimyristin from Nutmeg

Submitted by crmckenzie on Wed, 04/04/2018 - 11:46

The melting point of this recrystallization could not be obtained due to the fact that no melting was observed after it was heated to 160 °C. This could be due to impurities, contamination, or the incorrect measurement of reactants. The second recrystallization’s MP shoulder higher because more impurities should be removed after the second recrystallization, however it should only be higher by a couple degrees. Trimyristin is a saturated fat found in coconut oil, palm oil, and nutmeg. Through hydrolysis of trimyristin, myristic acid was obtained. Myristic acid is a fatty acid commonly found in coconut oil, palm oil, and other beauty products, and because of this it is vital to obtain the purest form of myristic acid during isolation. This is why it is best to obtain myristic acid from natural sources.

 

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