Heptadecanoic acid

Heptadecanoic acid (CAS 506-12-7), also known as margaric acid, is a saturated odd-chain fatty acid used as a reference standard, emulsifier, and surface-active agent.

Where is Heptadecanoic acid used?

• Food and nutrition: certified reference standard for fatty acid profiling
• Lipid analysis in quality control laboratories
• Cosmetic creams, balms, and waxy emulsions: texture, emulsion stability, and skin-feel
• Lubricant and metalworking: boundary lubricant and surface modifier that reduces friction on metal substrates
• Cutting fluids and specialty grease formulations
• Industrial processing: emulsification and dispersion where precise fatty acid chain length is required
• Its odd-carbon structure makes it an analytical marker and functional ingredient where even-chain fatty acids are unsuitable.

Good to know: Not to be confused with even-chain fatty acids, which are unsuitable for these applications. It provides benefits without the melting-point limitations of shorter-chain acids.

Commercial specifications

• High-purity analytical grades for reference standard and laboratory use
• Packaging from small quantities for laboratory procurement to bulk quantities for manufacturing-scale sourcing