The determination of the unsaponifiable matter of tall oil distillates

Summary A comparison has been made of extraction efficiency of ethyl ether or petroleum ether in the removal of unsaponifiable matter of tall oil distillates, using the analytical procedures of A.S.T.M. or A.O.C.S. It has been shown that solvents can be used interchangeably. Results were within reasonable accuracy. Synthetic mixtures containing added abietic acid and rosin impurities, when heated at 300°C., increased in unsaponifiable content. Examination of the unsaponifiable extract from several tall oil, fatty acid fractions indicated that it was composed essentially of decarboxylated products of rosin and fatty acids.