Search for new industrial oils: XVI. Umbelliflorae—seed oils rich in petroselinic acid

Seed oils of the order Umbelliflorae, including those from the families Umbelliferae, Garryaceae, Araliaceae, Cornaceae, Davidiaceae, Nyssaceae and Alangiaceae, were analyzed for fatty acid composition by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) of their methyl esters. The characteristic fatty acid of the order, petroselinic acid, occurred in the Umbelliferae in amounts up to 85%. In the Araliaceae, the content was as high as 83% and in the Garryaceae as high as 81%. The other major acids were palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids, with small amounts of hexadecenoic, stearic, linolenic, and, in some cases, C₂₀ acids. petroselinic acid was determined by microscale ozonolysis of the C₁₈ monoenoic esters and subsequent GLC of the ozonolysis products. The occurrence of high oil contents (up to 46%) combined with exceptionally high (up to 83%) single component purity is notable and emphasizes the potential of the Umbelliflorae as a raw material source for the chemical industry.