FATTY ACID

1 Food Industry

Cooking oils  fats Fatty acids are components of edible oils and fats eg palmitic acid stearic acid oleic acid

Emulsifiers Fatty acids and their derivatives like mono and diglycerides help mix oil and water in processed foods

Preservatives  flavor enhancers Certain fatty acids like lauric acid have antimicrobial properties

2 Cosmetic  Personal Care

Soaps  detergents Fatty acids are saponified with alkali to produce soaps

Lotions  creams Fatty acids act as emollients thickening agents and moisturizers

Shampoos  conditioners Help in conditioning hair and improving texture

3 Pharmaceutical Industry

Drug delivery Fatty acids are used to formulate liposomes micelles and emulsions for better drug absorption

Excipients Some fatty acids act as carriers stabilizers or solubilizers in tablets and capsules

4 Industrial Applications

Lubricants  greases Stearic acid and other fatty acids are used in making lubricants

Plasticizers Fatty acids can soften plastics or be part of polymer production

Paints  coatings Act as drying agents and improve spreadability

Textile  leather processing Fatty acids are used in finishing fabrics and softening leather

5 Chemical  Surfactant Industry

Detergents  surfactants Fatty acids are converted into sodium potassium or ammonium salts used in soaps and cleaning products

Biodiesel production Fatty acids from oils are transesterified to produce biodiesel

6 Nutraceuticals  Health Supplements

Omega3 Omega6 Omega9 fatty acids Used in capsules or functional foods for cardiovascular and brain health

Skin  hair supplements Support hair growth skin hydration and antiinflammatory effects

7 Specialty Applications

Lubricants for machinery Longchain fatty acids reduce friction

Waterproofing agents Fatty acids help in hydrophobic coatings

Candles  waxes Stearic acid increases hardness and improves burning quality