What Is Oleamide?
Oleic acid amide is an amide of oleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid.
It is also known as “oleamide.” Its molecular formula is C18H35NO, and it contains one amide bond and one double bond. In living organisms, oleamide is produced endogenously from oleic acid by the biosynthesis of oleic acid and ammonia.
Like oleic acid, it is said to be related to sleep-related neuropeptides. The synthesis pathway and the enzymes required for biosynthesis have not yet been identified, and the substance is still under study.
It is industrially produced and used for a variety of applications. It is a solid substance with low toxicity and skin sensitization, but it is irritating to the eyes and should be carefully rinsed out if it gets into the eyes.
Uses of Oleamide
Oleamide and other fatty acid amides have long-chain hydrocarbon groups that are highly lipophilic and amide groups that are highly hydrophilic, which allows them to function on a variety of material surfaces.
1. Industrial Applications
Oleamide is often used as a lubricant for polyolefin resins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Lubricants are additives that reduce friction between resin pellets or molded products, or between resins and processing machines.
In the case of polyethylene film, the addition of approximately 0.1% to 0.5% oleamide is generally sufficient to achieve the desired effect. Other industrial applications include ink dispersants, wax modifiers, metal defogging, rust inhibitors, and synthetic raw materials for other chemicals.
2. Food and Biological Applications
Oleamide has been found in a variety of foods, the most familiar of which is Camembert cheese. It is also found in other foods, such as Taiso, which is used as a herbal medicine.
Although it has not yet reached the stage of practical application, it has been shown to work on sleep and stress, and its application as a therapeutic agent for sleep disorders and depression is under consideration. Oleamide is thought to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity while activating cells called microglia, which are responsible for removing waste products such as amyloid-β in the brain.
Other uses of oleamide itself are rare, but its derivatives are used as raw materials for shampoos and cosmetics as detergents, foam stabilizers, penetrating agents, wetting agents, and emulsifying aids, taking advantage of its surfactant properties.
Characteristics of Oleamide
Oleamide is industrially produced by the reaction of oleic acid and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst. First, ammonium oleate is formed, which is dehydrated under high pressure to form oleamide.
Boric acid, activated alumina, silica gel, and kaolin are effective catalysts. The reaction conditions are 170 to 200°C, pressure 0.3 to 0.7 MPa, and reaction time 10 to 12 hours.
The raw material oleic acid is not limited, but plant-derived oleic acid can be manufactured with less odor than animal-derived oleic acid due to differences in impurities. Another method is to react an oleic acid ester with ammonia. In this case, fats and oils are used as raw materials, and glycerin can be recovered.
Types of Oleamide
Oleamide is sold mainly as reagent products for research and development, and as powders, flakes, and particles for industrial use. In reagent products, it is sold in reagent bottles with contents of 25g or 500g, which is an easy size to handle in the laboratory. They can be stored at room temperature.
For industrial use, it is sold in large packages for lubricant applications in plastic factories.