Solubility of Saturated Fatty Acids

It is important to select a suitable sample preparation solution when preparing saturated fatty acid samples. Polarities of fatty acids decrease (i.e., increase their hydrophobicity) as their carbon number increase. This polarity difference affects their solubility in different solvents.
The table below summarizes the solubility of saturated fatty acids (C2-C22) in THF, ethanol, acetonitrile, and water.

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Sample preparation solution Number of carbon in saturated fatty acid
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
THF ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Ethanol ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓        
Acetonitrile ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓          
*Water (Reference value from Pubchem) ✓ ✓ ｖ                

✓: Considered soluble, if 10 mg of saturated fatty acid dissolved in 1 mL of the solvent at room temperature (approximately 20 ℃).
*Marked ✓if the value listed in PubchemNew window will openwas over 10 mg/mL.

Sample Name Index

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