Preparation of heptadecenoic acid fromCandida tropicallis yeast

In this paper a method is described for preparing 10 g or more of heptadecenoic acid (C17:1ω8) of 99 p.100 purity fromCandida tripicallis yeast. Three cycles of treatment, based on crystallization techniques, were used successively: (1) Crystallization of fatty acids (in free form) from acetone at −25 C induced the elimination of most of the saturated fatty acids, and at −60 C, of all of the poly-unsaturated acids. (2) Inclusion formation of fatty acids (as methyl esters) with urea at hC induced the removal of all of the remaining saturated methyl esters and most of methyl oleate. (3) Crystallization of fatty acid methyl esters from acetone at −60 C removed almost all the remaining monounsaturated methyl esters (methyl palmitoleate and methyl oleate). Total efficiency of the preparation was about 17 p. 100.