Study of the density and viscosity of some pure fatty acids

An experimental study is carried out according to ASTM analysis methods of two physical properties, density and viscosity, of palmitic, stearic and oleic fatty acids; compounds which are present in the deodorization effluents of edible oils, with a view to their physics chemical characterisation needed for the design of surface condensers and freezers that could be employed in the recovery of these effluents. The measures are carried out every 5 °C, from temperatures close to those of solidification in each compound, of great interest in our study, to 100 °C. The values of these properties are contrasted with those that appear in the literature, and the experimental measures are correlated. Values of the density are also obtained applying Rackett's equation and those of dynamic viscosity using Andrade's equation, and then compared with experimental measures. Experimental data of the dynamic viscosity for oleic acid at low temperatures (between 0 and 24 °C) are also presented, because of their interest in the design of the previously mentioned equipment.