Medium-Chain Triglycerides (fractionated coconut oil)
INCI Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. CAS 73398-61-5, 65381-09-1; EC 277-452-2, 265-724-3, as CosIng gives them. Also: Fractionated coconut oil, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, MCT oil, Triglycerida saturata media, Miglyol 812-type.
Published values
| Saponification value | 310–360 mg KOH/g |
| Used by the calculator | 335.0 mg KOH/g (midpoint) |
| SAP for NaOH | 0.2388 g/g |
| Iodine value | ≤ 1 g I₂/100 g |
| INS (SAP − IV) | 334 |
| Melting point | — |
| Unsaponifiable matter | ≤ 0.5 % |
One soapmaking book prints 0.234 g NaOH per g. Why book figures and ours can differ.
A bar made of 100 % Medium-Chain Triglycerides
Conventional qualities summed from the fatty-acid groups; a single-oil bar is a reference point, not a recipe.
How much lye
| Oil | NaOH | KOH |
|---|---|---|
| 500 g | 113.4 g(105.0–121.9) | 159.1 g(147.3–171.0) |
| 1 kg | 226.9 g(209.9–243.8) | 318.3 g(294.5–342.0) |
| 1 lb (454 g) | 102.9 g(95.2–110.6) | 144.4 g(133.6–155.1) |
| 2 lb (907 g) | 205.8 g(190.5–221.2) | 288.7 g(267.2–310.3) |
For this oil alone at 5 % superfat, with pure sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or pure potassium hydroxide (KOH); in brackets, across the published range of its saponification value. KOH is usually sold at 90 %: divide by 0.9. For a whole recipe, open the calculator.
Fatty-acid profile
Saturated : unsaturated 100 : 0
| Fatty acid | Published range, % | Used | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caproic acid | C6:0 · saturated | ≤ 2 | 2.0 |
| Caprylic acid | C8:0 · saturated | 50–80 (typical 58) | 58.0 |
| Capric acid | C10:0 · saturated | 20–50 (typical 41) | 41.0 |
| Lauric acid | C12:0 · saturated | ≤ 3 | 3.0 |
| Myristic acid | C14:0 · saturated | ≤ 1 | 1.0 |
Guides that discuss it
Compared with other oils
Where these numbers come from
Mirror site hosting the USP 29-NF 24 text; values transcribed from that page. Newer USP editions may differ.
MIGLYOL 812 N complies with Ph. Eur./BP 'Triglycerides, Medium-Chain' and USP 'Medium-Chain Triglycerides'. Spec/typical: acid value max 0.2 (0.02); hydroxyl value max 10 (3); water max 0.2%; caprylic acid C8:0 50.0-80.0% (typical 58); capric acid C10:0 20.0-50.0% (typical 41); C8+C10 min 95.0% (typical 99).
USP 29-NF 24 'Medium-Chain Triglycerides' (harmonised with Ph. Eur. 'Triglycerides, medium-chain'): mixture of triglycerides of saturated C8/C10 acids from coconut or palm kernel endosperm oil, NLT 95 % C8+C10 acids; saponification value 310-360; iodine value NMT 1.0; acid value NMT 0.2; hydroxyl value NMT 10; peroxide NMT 1.0; unsaponifiable NMT 0.5 %; fatty-acid composition: C6 NMT 2.0, C8 50.0-80.0, C10 20.0-50.0, C12 NMT 3.0, C14 NMT 1.0 %; specific gravity 0.93-0.96 (20 C); refractive index 1.440-1.452. 'typical' caprylic 58 % and capric 41 % (C8+C10 typical 99 %) are the manufacturer's typical values for IOI Oleo MIGLYOL 812 N. Liquid at room temperature (no melting range given). Very high SAP: soap made from it is mostly potassium/sodium caprylate-caprate (harsh, highly soluble).
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