Myristyl Alcohol

Brief Overview
Myristyl alcohol, also known as Tetradecanol, is a long-chain fatty alcohol with a chemical formula C14H30O. The 14-carbon atom chain is connected to a single hydroxide molecule. It is a white crystalline powder compound at room temperature with a waxy odor. The chemical is naturally found in spermaceti wax and sperm oil. Myristyl alcohol is highly flammable and should be separated from sources of heat.
Manufacturing Process
Myristyl acid is sourced from palm kernel oil and distillation is required to purify the product. On an industrial scale, myristyl alcohol is manufactured by the reduction of esters. Ester is reduced by undergoing hydride reduction with lithium aluminum hydride as a reducing agent. The ester is broken down into two alcohol constituents. On the other hand, the fractionation of fatty alcohols (C-12 - C-14) is conducted to purify the extract of myristyl alcohol.