Fatty acid refers to a long aliphatic hydrocarbon chain containing a carboxyl group at one end, which is an organic substance. The general formula of straight chain saturated fatty acid is C (n) H (2n+1) COOH. Low level fatty acids are colorless liquids with pungent smell. High level fatty acids are waxy solids without obvious smell. Fatty acid is the simplest kind of fat, which is a component of many more complex fats. With sufficient oxygen supply, fatty acids can be oxidized and decomposed into CO2 and H2O, releasing a lot of energy. Therefore, fatty acids are one of the main energy sources of the body.
Fatty acids are mainly used to manufacture daily cosmetics, detergents, industrial fatty acid salts, coatings, paints, rubber, soaps, etc.