Fatty acid blends and uses therefor
Provided herein are blends oils or fatty acids comprising more than 50% medium chain fatty acids, or the fatty acid alkyl esters thereof, and having low melting points. Such blends are useful as a fuel or as a starting material for the production of, for example, a biodiesel. Also provided genetically altered or modified plants, modified such that the amount of medium chain fatty acids generated by the plant are increased. Further provided is a method of predicting the melting point of a blend of fatty acid methyl esters and the use of such a method for identifying blends suitable for use as, for example, a biodiesel.
1. A mixture of fatty acids comprising:
80% to 100% saturated fatty acids having 8-12 carbons and monounsaturated fatty acids having 12-18 carbons;
5% to 80% caprylic acid (C8:0) and capric acid (C10:0), and less than 20% lauric acid (C12:0);
wherein said monounsaturated fatty acids account for 5% to 95% by weight of the mixture; and
wherein said mixture comprises less than 20% polyunsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids having more than 12 carbons; and
wherein:
(1) the mixture comprises 6% to 20% lauric acid (C12:0);
(2) caprylic acid (C8:0), capric acid (C10:0), and lauric acid (C12:0) together account for 20% to 40% of the mixture;
(3) oleic acid (C18:1) and palmitoleic acid (16:1) together account for 50% to 85% of the mixture;
(4) stearic (18:0) and palmitic acid (16:0) account for less than 4% of the mixture;
(5) myristic acid (14:0) accounts for less than 2% of the mixture;
(6) linoleic acid (18:2) and linolenic acid (18:3) together account for less than 3% of the mixture; or
(7) arachidic acid (C20:0), behenic acid (C22:0) and lignoceric acid (C24:0) account for less than 1% of the mixture.