Contact Us
Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
© 2025 Jeifer Pharmaceutical, All Right
Reserved.
Sourced from natural fats and plant oils, oleic acid stands out as a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid with the formula C18H34O2. This compound, recognized across BP, EP, and USP standards, mainly takes a liquid form at room temperature. Its color ranges from colorless to pale yellow, and its faint aroma gives away its organic origin. On first encounter, it may seem just another raw material, but its vast use in both industrial and pharmaceutical hubs says otherwise. The raw substance flows smoothly as a liquid, but under controlled cooling, it forms waxy, pearlescent flakes or small, crystalline solids. The adjustment between liquid and solid does not alter its underlying chemist, but reflects the subtle dance between structure and temperature.
Peering close with analytical eyes, the molecular backbone of oleic acid displays a long carbon chain with a single cis double bond placed at the ninth carbon, from the carboxylic acid end. This unsaturation explains its bent structure, which plays a part in its liquid form at ambient temperatures. Density hovers around 0.89 g/cm³, and the melting point sits close to 13-14°C; above this, it transitions into a clear, pourable liquid, below this, flakes and pearls begin to appear, especially during storage in cooler environments. Its molar mass registers at 282.46 g/mol. This chemical profile draws interest in both labs and production plants.
On the global trading stage, companies and customs departments track oleic acid with the HS Code 38231900. This code serves more than paperwork—it anchors cross-border compliance, tariff structuring, and quality checks. Regulators, from the European Pharmacopoeia to the British and United States standards groups, use these codes and names not only to maintain safety but to align manufacturing protocols. Sticking to the BP EP USP standards marks a clear indication of commitment to pharmaceutical purity, steering clear of contaminants or variable concentrations found in grades meant for industrial markets.
Those with hands-on experience know that oleic acid reveals itself most often as a flowing liquid, slightly more viscous than water but less so than syrup. Stored at lower temperatures, the acid can harden, flaking into fine, pearly fragments that—while less common in pharma applications—may surface in shipping or cold storage. Some vendors offer a micropearl or powdery form, produced through controlled solidification and grinding; these often serve in raw material blending for solid dose pharma or specialty chemical use. Regardless of appearance, the property shifts do not obscure the core omega-9 profile, and transformation among these phases simply tailors the material for different application preferences or handling requirements.
Oleic acid BP EP USP pharma grade supports a wide spectrum of uses. In my own work in pharma supply chains, the ingredient regularly features in topical medicines—enhancing permeability or acting as a base for ointments and creams. Capsule formulations, emulsions, and suspensions rely on it for solubilization. The welcoming, neutral chemical profile helps dissolve lipophilic active pharmaceutical ingredients or serve as a softening agent in coating processes. Its widespread adoption in international pharmacopeias hinges on batch consistency and impurity thresholds as much as the base chemistry, pointing to a broader need for tracable, quality-monitored raw materials.
I remember the first MSDS I reviewed for oleic acid—safety procedures focused on basic protection, because contact with eyes or prolonged skin exposure can trigger irritation, even if the substance itself does not threaten outright toxicity at usual handling concentrations. Proper ventilation in the workspace limits inhalation risk from aerosols or vapors formed during heating. Chemical storage should avoid incompatible oxidizers or high heat. What concerns me most remains the growth in demand for pharmaceutical-grade oleic acid and the long-term sustainability of sourcing from non-GMO, responsibly harvested plant sources. Pharmaceutical regulators increasingly question origin tracing as part of a wider audit trail—not just for patient safety, but to align with broader goals like reducing deforestation or unethical production labor.
From an insider perspective, one consistent challenge lies in ensuring purity for pharmaceutical use—removal of pesticide residues, residual catalysts, or other fatty acids during extraction and refining often tests both manufacturer knowledge and equipment. Investment in fractional distillation, molecular filtration, or green chemistry extraction methods could help close these gaps. Yet, these improvements drive up handling costs and final price to buyers. Finding a balance between over-engineering and minimum requirements for medical use defines much of the discussion between producers and procurement teams. R&D groups push for improved analytical testing, using techniques like GC-MS and HPLC, to identity even small impurities or shifts in isomer ratio that might change efficacy.
So much of the ongoing dialogue around oleic acid for pharmaceuticals returns to trust. End-users—whether a researcher in a formulation lab or a procurement officer in a volume-centric generic plant—seek a combination of transparency, reliability, and regulatory backing in their suppliers. Sourcing directly from vertically-integrated operations, who monitor from seed field to final drum, may cut down on batch-to-batch variability and support easier auditing. Greater use of sustainable raw material sources—such as certified palm, olive, or sunflower inputs—can reduce both reputational and compliance risks. Over the years I’ve seen demand swell for digital records, quality metrics, and clear HS Code reporting, not just as red tape but as foundational for drugs that patients can trust, regardless of geography or origin.
Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
