Esters of pure tall oil fatty acids and commercially available monohydric alcohols were prepared, distilled, and analyzed for pertinent values. The tall oil fatty acid fraction used in the esterification contained approximately 0.6% rosin acids with essentially equal distribution of fatty acids into oleic and linoleic acids. The use of various techniques, such as fast cooling by the addition of cold water to ester solutien, vacuum topping before water washing, and/or use of carbon dioxide as a blanketing gas resulted in the production of light‐colored ester products. These esters, low in acidic impurities and light in color, are another source of chemical intermediates for the preparation of plasticizers, cutting oils, hydraulic fluids, and lubricants.

Summary A comparison has been made of extraction efficiency of ethyl ether or petroleum ether in the removal of unsaponifiable matter of tall oil distillates, using the analytical procedures of A.S.T.M. or A.O.C.S. It has been shown that solvents can be used interchangeably. Results were within reasonable accuracy. Synthetic mixtures containing added abietic acid and rosin impurities, when heated at 300°C., increased in unsaponifiable content. Examination of the unsaponifiable extract from several tall oil, fatty acid fractions indicated that it was composed essentially of decarboxylated products of rosin and fatty acids.