I proposed the same method I thought of, only he said to add the lye gradually over a day or two, and said I don't need to heat it over 80 degrees C, and said I should add the myriotic acid (HCl) gradually as well. He says i can buy both of those in stores. The HCl is a pool cleaner, and usually is 1M. The less extreme conditions should keep the fatty acids from getting damaged. I don't think it will take 2 days though. I'll cook it for 2-3 hours, then set it aside while I leave the lab, then cook it again later, if I take 2 days. He said the glycerol should not re-combine, and that when i reach pH 4-5 again, the fatty acids should separate out of the water. I now remember my professor telling me something similar about another carboxylic acid. They are soluble in water only when they deprotonate. At pH 4, when most are protonated, they form their own layer. yeah, so this reaction will be easy.
I still would prefer the pressure cooker method, but I don't know how it is done, and if it is not done right, I'll have no way of knowing if the fatty acids are separated or if that is oil in there. I still want to research it more so I don't have to buy the lye and HCl.
I still would prefer the pressure cooker method, but I don't know how it is done, and if it is not done right, I'll have no way of knowing if the fatty acids are separated or if that is oil in there. I still want to research it more so I don't have to buy the lye and HCl.