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People have used fatty acids for decades, mostly from natural fats and oils, studying their health impacts before anyone set foot in a modern lab. Tetradecanoic acid, better known as myristic acid, shows up in traditional diets and animal fats. Chemists in the early 1900s learned to isolate and study it as a pure substance, shifting from guesswork to specific extraction. Over the years, pharmaceutical standards like BP, EP, and USP pushed for cleaner forms, leading manufacturers to tighten purification, protect against unwanted by-products, and prove standards with reproducible lab data. These changes matter; tighter standards mean improved confidence about product performance in sensitive medical contexts.
Myric acid falls within the saturated fatty acid group, sporting a 14-carbon backbone. Sources range from nutmeg and palm oil to milk fat and certain animal-derived oils, but the exact origin shifts depending on intended industry uses. Pharmaceutical quality batches demand stringent process control. As a consequence, today's pharma grade product leaves little room for contaminants, keeping it suitable for excipient use, drug delivery vehicles, and food-grade materials. Standardization under BP, EP, and USP flags offers more than a badge; it directly improves traceability in supply chains riddled with inconsistency.
In the lab, a bottle of myristic acid usually looks like a flaky or crystalline solid, white with a slightly waxy feel. At room temperature, it feels hard; warmth coaxes it into a clear liquid. Solubility in water stays frustratingly low, but put it with alcohol, ether, or classic organic solvents and it dissolves with ease. Chemists use its simple formula—C14H28O2—to predict its behavior during reactions. Melting occurs near 53.9°C, and boiling takes off past 250°C (at reduced pressure). Its molecular weight anchors at about 228.37 g/mol. This stability under elevated temperatures and resistance to oxidation makes it a popular choice for more robust formulations.
Manufacturers print labels guided by a maze of regulatory rules, including specification sheets covering assay purity, melting point, moisture limits, acid value, iodine value, and residual solvent content. A pharmaceutical label lists not only what’s inside but what’s not—heavy metals, microbial loads, pesticides, and other unwanted contaminants. These details aren’t fluff; each detail offers scientists and doctors the confidence to use myristic acid in formulations that demand accuracy. CHNS (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur) analysis, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), and gas chromatography reports hang in every compliant facility, and lab technicians pull reference samples for any supplier audit.
Modern myristic acid usually comes from hydrolyzing natural fats, most often nutmeg oil or palm kernel oil. Chemists start by splitting fats with water under heat and pressure, freeing fatty acids from their glycerol backbone. Fractional distillation separates myristic acid from its shorter and longer cousins, while precise filtration strips out residual color and impurities. Some labs go the synthetic route, stitching together hydrocarbons stepwise, but cost and public acceptability keep natural extraction as the favored path. Tight process controls help meet pharmacopoeia requirements, especially when myristic acid ends up as a formulation ingredient or an intermediate in active drug synthesis.
Myristic acid participates readily in esterification, making it an ideal building block for surfactants, emulsifiers, and various esters. Reacting with alcohols, it forms myristates that show up in everything from cosmetic creams to controlled-release drug coatings. Its carboxylic acid functional group opens doors for salt formation, nucleophilic substitutions, and amidation reactions—broadening its industrial impact well past single-use boundaries. Hydrogenation of unsaturated fats yields more myristic acid, and researchers explore oxidative cleavage and other relatively simple organic transformations to adjust its properties. Each chemical manipulation feeds new product lines and drives incremental improvements in finished goods, especially in pharma and nutritional supplements.
Industry insiders recognize myristic acid under a variety of titles: Tetradecanoic Acid, C14:0 fatty acid, N-Tetradecanoic acid, and Myristate, to name a few. These aliases reflect different scientific traditions or branding strategies, and anyone sourcing material for medical or food applications knows to cross-reference CAS number 544-63-8. In commercial settings, product names sometimes highlight purity, origin, or utility, like "Myristic Acid Pharma Grade" or "USP Myristate". Buyers and regulators watch labeling closely to avoid mistakes that once led to high-profile product recalls.
Working with myristic acid feels relatively straightforward because it's not acutely toxic, but best practices call for gloves, goggles, dust control, and good ventilation. Sensitive skin reacts sometimes, so manufacturers stress protective clothing and discourage eating or smoking in production areas. Pharma grade batches require cleanroom manufacturing and scrupulous tracking through quality management systems. Standards anchored in BP, EP, and USP guidelines ensure every container meets rigorous limits for microbial contamination, chemical residue, and physical description. These standards help protect not just workers but downstream patients who trust injectable solutions, oral tablets, or topical creams.
Drug developers and formulation scientists reach for myristic acid daily. In pharma, it serves as an excipient, smoothing controlled-release tablet coatings and keeping powdered actives flowing evenly during production. Nutritional researchers incorporate it as a dietary fat source in specialized food formulations, catering to populations with unique metabolic needs. In cosmetics, myristic acid feeds into surfactants for cleansers, adding a creamy texture and improving wash-off. Its use extends to personal care, food preservatives, veterinary drugs, and even as an intermediate for producing higher-value chemicals like specialty esters and surfactants—each application driven by its reliable thermal stability and low reactivity in finished goods.
Ongoing studies focus on unlocking the metabolic pathways for myristic acid in humans, uncovering links between regular intake and lipid metabolism, immune health, and cardiovascular impact. Labs around the globe search for faster, greener extraction techniques, aiming to minimize waste and energy input. Analytical chemists dig deeper with mass spectrometry and high-res chromatography, defining difference-makers between grades and detecting trace impurities that slip through older systems. Formulation scientists explore new delivery systems—liposomes, nanoparticles, and prodrugs—tapping into myristic acid’s compatibility with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic components. R&D doesn’t always chase the next blockbuster compound; much of the progress involves refining how such a foundational material improves patient outcomes and process efficiency.
Investigators long assumed the safety of myristic acid by its prevalence in milk and traditional foods, but animal studies show a complex story: high doses can affect cholesterol metabolism and liver enzyme activity. Regulatory committees periodically reevaluate permissible limits, focusing on chronic exposure, allergen risk, and reproductive toxicology. Human trials tend to show tolerance at levels present in most diets, though certain formulations and delivery routes demand escalated scrutiny. Each finished product in pharma or food spaces undergoes toxicological evaluation as a patchwork of animal studies, in vitro models, and clinical monitoring. It's easy to see why vigilance matters, considering widespread daily exposure among both healthy and vulnerable populations.
Looking forward, the conversation around myristic acid stays dynamic—emerging research connects its roles to gut microbiota interactions and anti-inflammatory pathways that could influence the design of next-gen supplements. Sustainability figures heavily into future sourcing, as consumers and governments demand shifts from palm oil dependency to greener, traceable feedstocks. Automation and digital traceability tools reshape how plants monitor purity, enabling quick detection of off-spec lots and swift recalls. Demand from pharma, nutraceutical, and personal care industries grows. Researchers continue to investigate molecular tweaks that could boost solubility or bioactivity, although every improvement must pass safety scrutiny from tightly regulated agencies. To stay ahead, companies rely on a blend of evidence-based practice, real-world experience, and an openness to new science—making myristic acid both an old staple and a springboard for future breakthroughs.
Step into any pharmaceutical lab and you’ll find lots of long-named compounds. Myric acid—also called tetradecanoic acid—sounds pretty intimidating, but it’s really just a 14-carbon saturated fatty acid. It shows up in products from medicine to food and cosmetics, because it’s reliable, consistent, and safe. My father was a pharmacist. I grew up hearing about ingredients people barely notice, yet those ingredients do a lot of heavy lifting. Myric acid fits that mold.
Pharmaceutical grade myric acid needs to meet tough purity standards: BP, EP, and USP. BP stands for British Pharmacopoeia, EP for European Pharmacopoeia, and USP for United States Pharmacopeia. These aren't just acronyms for show. Pharmacists and chemists depend on standards to keep people safe. If a drug or excipient doesn’t make the grade, it has no business in a pill or powder anywhere near a patient.
Pharma companies use myric acid as an excipient. In plain English, it acts as a helper. It can give tablets the right texture, make sure medication spreads the right way in the body, or stabilize sensitive ingredients. Some drugs are fussy: if the supporting ingredients change, absorption and effect can vary. Researchers have proven that tablets made with saturated fatty acids like myric acid dissolve more predictably, which leads to more reliable dosing.
Step outside the pharmacy, you’ll see myric acid listed on food and cosmetic labels. It helps chocolate keep its snap and creaminess. Some lotions and face creams use it as a thickener, as it feels pleasant on the skin and doesn’t clog pores. The FDA classifies it as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use in foods. In my own kitchen, I’ve seen the effect: chocolates stay glossy longer, and there’s less separation in spreads.
It’s easy to get suspicious about anything with a complicated name. Myric acid is present in coconut oil, dairy, and palm oil—foods most people have eaten for decades. Studies show the body handles it well in typical amounts. Allergies to pure myric acid almost never show up in clinical reports, and toxicologists track exposures closely.
Still, the world knows the dangers of too much saturated fat. Nutritionists warn against diets heavy in coconut and palm oil. Myric acid plays a tiny part, but we can’t ignore its broader profile as a saturated fat. Keeping its use reasonable is wise, even in formulations.
One challenge is the sourcing of myric acid. Palm oil, a main source, brings up ethical and environmental worries—deforestation and unsustainable farming. Demand for better practices is rising. Certified sustainable palm oil exists, but not every supplier uses it. Drug companies are starting to push for full traceability, and some food makers have made the switch to coconut or even synthetic options.
There’s a push now for more plant-based, ethical, and renewable ingredients in every industry. Scientists and purchasing managers can ask harder questions of suppliers: where did this fatty acid come from? How was it extracted? Consumers and patients care—transparency keeps trust alive in a world of growing skepticism.
Better labeling and open ingredient sourcing keep the public in the loop. Industry watchdogs have their work cut out for them. Everyone from chemists to consumers needs to weigh facts, challenge suppliers, and adapt as research and ethics evolve.
Myric acid turns up frequently in pharmaceutical manufacturing, showing up in everything from anti-inflammatory creams to laboratory-grade salts. In my years working around the pharma supply chain, few chemicals have sparked more questions from both buyers and quality control folks. What really counts about the quality of myric acid—especially BP (British Pharmacopoeia), EP (European Pharmacopoeia), and USP (United States Pharmacopeia) pharma grades—boils down to purity, reliability, and transparency.
Each pharmacopoeia sets clear requirements for pharmaceutical-grade substances. Myric acid’s specs don’t leave much to guesswork. Myric acid BP, EP, and USP grade expects a purity of not less than 99%, typically tested by sophisticated chromatography. Total impurities must stay well below 1%; heavy metals, especially lead, should max out at a few parts-per-million at most. Moisture content can’t blow past 0.5%, as anything higher and you risk a compromised end product. Ash content? Usually capped tightly, since excessive residue signals sloppy isolation or contamination during synthesis.
Identification testing—be it infrared absorption, melting point range (usually in the 202–206°C zone), or chemical reaction—keeps counterfeits and substitutions off the market. Assays anchored in validated methods like HPLC confirm that the proper molecule is present in the right amount. All these aren’t just regulatory red tape. I’ve seen the trouble that can follow from skipping spec: supply disruptions, failed product batches, solvents that just won’t dissolve what’s supposed to dissolve.
Pharma grade purity stands as more than a marketing motto. Manufacturers need to trace every gram of raw material to batch records and test it as both incoming and outgoing stock. At the warehouse, I remember handfuls of cases pulled and returned just because of faint discoloration—not something you see on a lab report, but a hint that extra caution’s needed.
Beyond chemical analysis, traceability delivers peace of mind. Certificate of Analysis (COA), Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), and a recent audit or site inspection keep everyone accountable, from raw material provider to drug delivery. No lab or factory wants recalls or patient risk because of sloppy documentation or an off-brand supplier.
Quality slips often creep in during bulk transit or poor storage. Humidity and temperature swings lead to hydrolysis or subtle changes that no one sees until a batch fails downstream. Some warehouses in hot, damp regions even require double-bagging or controlled temps—details often baked into vendor contracts after a few near-misses or outright losses.
In places where regulations seem lighter or oversight less strict, the chance of cross-contamination or substandard batches jumps. The smart play? Test every lot, avoid chasing super-low prices from unknown sources, and keep tight records if anything seems off. Peer-reviewed studies and FDA or EMA alerts can reveal hidden risks not immediately obvious in day-to-day buying or handling.
Companies that stay open with test results, promptly address customer questions, and submit to regular audits set the benchmark higher for everyone. Investing in third-party analysis reveals more than just compliance; it gives assurance where it matters: patient outcomes and drug safety. Quality assurance teams need to stay trained, aware, and willing to demand better if specs aren’t being met. In the long run, working with honest data and tough specs builds trust, both inside the lab and out in the market. That’s what makes the difference, every single batch.
Myric acid, better known by its chemical name tetradecanoic acid, shows up as a 14-carbon saturated fatty acid. Most people haven’t heard of it by name, but they’ve likely consumed it in dairy fat, coconut oil, and even in breast milk. In the drug world, pharmaceutical-grade myric acid carries strict BP (British Pharmacopoeia), EP (European Pharmacopoeia), and USP (United States Pharmacopeia) certifications. These standards matter. They mean each batch has to clear rigorous tests for purity, contaminants, and consistency, every single time.
I used to help review raw material specs for a generic drug manufacturer. If we cut corners on purity, those little contaminants could trigger recalls, or worse, cause harm once pills landed in pharmacies. Pharma-grade myric acid cuts out the noise. More than 99% purity, non-detectable heavy metals, and clear residue test results. These details protect the public. There’s no room for shortcuts because a drug is only as safe as its weakest ingredient.
Myric acid’s roots run deep. It’s a common component of many foods, so most people process small quantities daily. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gives it the “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) stamp for food use. Pharma applications lean on that background. In some medicines, myric acid acts as an excipient, helping active molecules dissolve or mix better. Researchers studying it for years haven’t flagged major toxicity concerns at the levels used in medications. In lab tests, even high doses in rodents don’t produce the alarming outcomes you see with some synthetic chemicals.
Raw myric acid meant for industry, not medicine, might contain more impurities—traces of other long-chain acids, leftover solvents, heavy metals, or even pesticides. These invisible extras are rarely a threat in a laundry soap batch, but in a capsule swallowed daily, they pose real risks. Chronic exposure to these impurities links to allergy, organ stress, or more severe toxic effects. If you’re manufacturing medicine, you want the paperwork and the lab reports that prove you’re using pharma grade, no exceptions.
Even though pharmaceutical-grade myric acid scores high on the current safety charts, regulators keep a close watch. Continuous batch testing, random audits, and mandatory quality checks protect the chain from plant to patient. Improvements can always happen. Suppliers could boost transparency by making third-party purity results public. Drug companies might adopt in-house fingerprint testing using techniques like gas chromatography. On the policy side, authorities might expand impurity profiles beyond current fatty acid standards—looking for things that weren’t on their radar last decade. Science evolves, and so do expectations.
Not every fatty acid is the same, and not every “food-safe” substance belongs in medication. People deserve more than a label—trust grows out of tight quality controls and openness about sourcing. Pharma-grade myric acid stands up to tough scrutiny, but it only takes one misstep to erode that trust. Everyone down the line—from the farm to the cleanroom—carries part of that responsibility. That shared commitment is what makes the difference between safe medicine and a gamble.
Anyone in pharmaceuticals understands that storing raw materials isn’t something to gloss over. Myric acid, known scientifically as tetradecanoic acid, might sound intimidating, but it's essentially a fatty acid with a defined place in the pharma world. Whether crafting creams, working in research, or manufacturing complex compounds, proper storage answers for quality and patient safety.
Temperature control stands out as the most significant step. Most pharmaceutical-grade myric acid prefers a cool, dry space, ideally below 25°C. Excess heat fosters degradation and may alter the physical consistency, which can throw off mixing or measuring later on. I’ve seen what happens when temperature isn’t respected—clumping, discoloration, and sometimes an off smell that tells you degradation has already started.
Humidity creeps up on you fast, especially in older storage facilities. A desiccated room, or sealed, moisture-proof containers, keeps clumping and hydrolysis away. If you’ve cracked open a bottle exposed to damp air, chances are you’ve seen the difference in flow and purity.
Protecting this acid from sunlight holds high priority. Even artificial light, especially UV, can prompt unwanted chemical reactions. Opaque or amber glass bottles offer a trusted shield; storing containers away from windows does the rest of the job.
Never overlook the packaging. Pharma-grade materials often arrive in inner polyethylene bags and outer fiber drums or HDPE containers. That double layer keeps out contaminants and blocks moisture. If tamper-evidence seals break or any residue appears around the rim, it signals potential contamination. It's not about being fussy—it's about avoiding costly recalls or batch failures.
Labels matter, but storage segregation finishes the job. Products like myric acid don’t belong in spaces where volatile solvents lurk. Even in my small facility days, a whiff of solvent could sometimes taint otherwise sound ingredients. Dedicated shelving and storage rooms prevent cross-contact, which speaks volumes during audits or GMP inspections.
Organized storage rooms help tracking and rotation, using the oldest lots first. Each batch comes lot-numbered and date stamped—too many expired materials result from lax tracking. Routine inventory spot-checks keep out-of-date stock out of sight and avoid mixing it with fresher material.
Stable shelving, spill-absorbing mats, and a spill-kit within arm’s reach keep surprises to a minimum. Investing in training for everyone who handles or moves containers adds up in long-term safety.
Temperature spikes often occur during transport, especially in hot climates. One solution comes from insulated shipping boxes or, for bigger volumes, climate-controlled storage. Low-tech data loggers now cost little and let you spot excursions at a glance.
Unintentional moisture exposure often stems from hasty access. Training staff to reseal containers every time, along with routine checks for moisture-absorbing packets, helps. Digital temperature and humidity monitors have replaced the old wall-mounted dials, giving staff an edge before problems get out of hand.
Storing chemicals isn’t just about ticking regulatory boxes. My experience shows that meticulous attention to storage details trims down material loss, supports valid lab results, and—most of all—protects the patients down the line. Every time myric acid sits undisturbed, in a dark, cool, dry place, that’s one more step toward safe and effective medicines reaching the people who need them most.
Sourcing pharma-grade myric acid, which is better known in the science world as tetradecanoic acid, calls for more than a quick online search. Picture drug formulation, where even a tiny impurity can throw off the safety or effectiveness of a product. Pharmacies and manufacturing teams aren’t just looking for the right molecule. They want proof that they can count on each batch—documents like Certificates of Analysis (COA) and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) aren’t just bureaucracy. They’re the paper trail making sure quality and safety don’t get left up to chance.
Anyone who’s been through an FDA or EMA inspection knows regulations exist for a reason. Chemicals labeled BP, EP, or USP grade meet strict pharmacopoeial standards—those letters aren’t just window dressing. Buyers expect suppliers to provide up-to-date COAs attached to every batch. Those documents list each test run on the product, like purity by GC or HPLC, melting point, even heavy metal content. A thorough MSDS should spell out storage, handling, personal protective equipment—practices to keep workers safe whether they’re at the bench or on the plant floor.
Markets for pharmaceutical ingredients have grown, making supplier transparency a bigger deal than ever. Not every supplier is built the same, and not every batch matches up. People who’ve been burned by subpar chemicals know how much downtime bad sourcing can cause. Labs working under GMP don’t just glance at a COA before signing for a delivery—they check batch numbers, expiration dates, results against their own in-house specs. A supplier that won’t provide COA or MSDS by request signals risks from the start.
Skipping the documentation isn’t just risky for companies. It can hit patients too. Picture a compounding pharmacy mixing up a batch of ointment and finding an unexpected contaminant, or a supplement manufacturer discovering residue of prohibited solvents. Even small lapses show up in quality audits or, worse, in recalls. In some countries, courts have held suppliers liable for not supplying full supporting paperwork on raw materials—this isn’t just corporate carelessness but a public safety issue.
Buyers serious about quality look past price tags. They ask about the whole paper trail: audit history, previous product recalls, and whether suppliers let clients review or audit their manufacturing sites. Some even collaborate with labs or third-party auditors, especially when sourcing lesser-known chemicals. Sharing experiences—good and bad—within industry groups pays off. Peer-recommended suppliers with bulletproof documentation build reputations quickly. Building strong relationships with these suppliers saves everyone time, trouble, and money, making recalls or production halts rare instead of routine.
We’re seeing a shift where quality documentation for pharmaceuticals isn’t negotiable. COA and MSDS are fundamentals, not just for compliance but for trust. News of recalls in the pharmaceutical world makes everyone more aware of how lax documentation can ripple downstream. Teams that treat documentation as a partnership with their suppliers improve outcomes for companies and patients alike.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | tetradecanoic acid |
| Other names |
Tetradecanoic Acid Myristic Acid n-Tetradecanoic Acid NSC 6718 |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɪr.ɪk ˈæs.ɪd ˌtɛt.rəˌdiːˈkeɪ.nɪk ˈæs.ɪd/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 544-63-8 |
| Beilstein Reference | 1708736 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:28838 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL572 |
| ChemSpider | 10474 |
| DrugBank | DB01822 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 03d665d1-c4e5-447b-8f06-725bcef5ab5a |
| EC Number | 205-708-7 |
| Gmelin Reference | 1448 |
| KEGG | C06424 |
| MeSH | D014010 |
| PubChem CID | 14320 |
| RTECS number | MWG5950000 |
| UNII | 8W85T9U5PG |
| UN number | UN 3261 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DTXSID3054676 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C14H28O2 |
| Molar mass | 228.37 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 0.862 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Insoluble in water |
| log P | 4.9 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.000000403 mmHg at 25°C |
| Acidity (pKa) | 4.88 |
| Basicity (pKb) | pKb ≈ 14 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -8.6e-6 cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.430 |
| Dipole moment | 2.86 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 347.5 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -330.2 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -8890 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | NO ATC |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS labelling: `"GHS07, Exclamation mark, Warning, H315, H319, H335"` |
| Pictograms | GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H315: Causes skin irritation. H319: Causes serious eye irritation. H335: May cause respiratory irritation. |
| Precautionary statements | P264, P270, P301+P312, P330, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 1-0-0 |
| Flash point | 199 °C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (rat, oral): >10,000 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose) of Myric Acid (Tetradecanoic Acid) BP EP USP Pharma Grade: "LD50 (rat, oral) > 10,000 mg/kg |
| NIOSH | Not listed |
| PEL (Permissible) | Not established |
| REL (Recommended) | REL (Recommended): NIOSH REL: 10 mg/m³ (total), 5 mg/m³ (resp) |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Not Established |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Lauric acid Myristic acid Palmitic acid Stearic acid Capric acid Caprylic acid Caproic acid Oleic acid Linoleic acid |
Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
