Composition of tall oil pitch

Abstract

Compositions of six grades of tall oil pitch (TOP), four of finnish and two of U.S. origin were investigated. The pitch samples contained 34.6-51.6% free acids, 23.2-37.8% esterified acids, and 25.3-34.4% unsaponifiable neutral compounds. Each of the above fractions was analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Approximately 60% of the weight fraction in TOP consisted of high molecular components of which about half were acidic compounds. The low molecular free acids were mainly dehydroabietic, abietic, and other resin acids. The esterified acids consisted chiefly of oleic and linoleic acids. Unsaponifiable fractions were composed of diterpene alcohols, fatty alcohols, sterols, and dehydrated sterols. The alcohol components were almost completely esterified. © 1978 The American Oil Chemists' Society.