Capric acid (decanoic acid) is a free saturated medium-chain fatty acid with 10 atoms in the carbon chain (C10).  It is the most important ingredient in coconut oil.

Industrially it appears in powder form with a white to yellowish colouring.

What it is used for and where

Medical

Capric acid has the ability to improve the immune system by strengthening it and can act as a contrast agent in osteoporosis.

Capric acid, as an alternative source of energy, is the fatty acid in plasma that can reach higher concentrations than other fatty acids by crossing the blood-brain barrier and achieve positive results in neurological disorders (1).

Cosmetics

Cleansing agent. Ingredient that cleanses skin without exploiting the surface-active properties that produce a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum. 

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it allows perfume to be enhanced, masked or added to the final product, improving its commercial viability.  The consumer always expects to find a pleasant scent in a cosmetic product.

Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities. 

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Capric acid studies

Molecular Formula      C₁₀H₂₀O₂

Linear Formula   CH₃(CH₂)₈COOH

Molecular Weight      172.26

CAS  334-48-5

UNII    4G9EDB6V73

EC Number   206-376-4

DSSTox ID  DTXSID9021554

IUPAC  decanoic acid

InChl=1S/C10H20O2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10(11)12/h2-9H2,1H3,(H,11,12)

InChl Key      GHVNFZFCNZKVNT-UHFFFAOYSA-N

SMILES   CCCCCCCCCC(=O)O

MDL number  MFCD00004441

PubChem Substance ID    24892442

ChEBI  30813

RTECS  HD9100000

NCI    C68329

FEMA  2364    

NSC      5025

JECFA   105

Beilstein  1754556

NACRES  NA.25

Synonyms:

• caprinic acid
• n-decanoic acid
• Decanoic acid

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Shekhar N, Tyagi S, Rani S, Thakur AK. Potential of Capric Acid in Neurological Disorders: An Overview. Neurochem Res. 2023 Mar;48(3):697-712. doi: 10.1007/s11064-022-03809-4.