Surface tension of fatty acids and triglycerides

Surface tension as a function of temperature was measured for four fatty acids (lauric, myristic, palmitic, and oleic) and two triglycerides (tricaprylin and tripalmitin). These surface tension measurements were performed using a K12 vers. 3.1 (Krüss GmbH) tensiometer at temperatures from 20 (or the melting point of each substance) to 90°C. The constants for a van der Waals-type correlation as well as for a linear equation are presented. Both equations are quite accurate, presenting mean deviations not exceeding 0.570%. Such correlation constants are valuable in the design or evaluation of processing equipment, especially that involving gas-liquid contact such as distillation and stripping columns, deodorizers, reactors, and equipment for physical refining.