Sodium decanoate has amphiphilic character and can form micelles and liquid crystalline phases in aqueous solution. In a chemical model system, it has been used in 13C NMR studies of the addition of hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules to the 1-monooleoyl glycerol/water system, to elucidate the transport of biologically active molecules.
Sodium Caprate is the sodium salt of capric acid. It functions as a binder, emulsifier, and anticaking agent.
Capric acid sodium salt is a fatty acid used in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics as an emulsifier, surfactant, or preservative.
Neutralise sodium hydroxide by adding a slight excess of free decanoic acid and recovering the excess acid by Et2O extraction. The salt is recrystallised from the aqueous solution by adding pure acetone and repeating the steps several times, then drying the salt in an oven at ca 110o [Chaudhury & Awuwallia Trans Faraday Soc 77 3119 1981]. [Beilstein 2 IV 1041.]
