ARS | Publication request: DEVELOPMENT OF OXYGENATED DERIVATIVES FROM CRAMBE

Submitted to: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: May 12, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Crambe is a oilseed crop that is mainly grown in the Northern Plains of the United States for erucic acid which is used in the formation of erucamide. The crop is currently being cultivated on approximately 50,000 acres and needs additional markets for the oil to continue expansion of crambe acreage. We have developed several oxygenated derivatives that are currently being evaluated for industrial potential. The first class of compounds is estolides. Crambe estolides and their esters have melting points ranging from -6 to -19 C. We have also been able to isomerize crambe fatty acids into delta-docosanolactone which can serve as a useful intermediate to a wide variety of derivatives including novel amides. These amides will be useful as a new class of detergents. Other derivatives we have made are 13(14)-chloro- 14(13)alkoxy- docosanoic acid and 13,14-dihydroxy docosanoic acid. The physical properties of these derivatives are under investigation.