Trimyristin Research Paper

Trimyristin is an ester with the chemical formula C45H86O6 that can be isolated from the common spice nutmeg. The seed of the evergreen trees in the genus Myristica Fragrans is what nutmeg is obtained from. Trimyristin is the triglyceride of myristic acid also known as saturated fat (3). The phase of trimyristin is solid and is only found soluble in dichloromethane, chloroform, ether, benzene, and ethanol (1). Only twenty to twenty-five percent of trimyristin makes up the mass of nutmeg and it is formed from the glycerol and saturated carboxylic acid (2). Like most extractions, isolating trimyristin is complex considering a variety of products are extracted in the solvent.

* Method: * Extraction of Trimyristin: First the sand bath was set to about 40o C. In
During the same time, the flask was warmed on a sand bath in order to dissolve the solid. Then it was allowed to slowly cool to room temperature and placed into an ice bath for 10 minutes. The crystals were collected by vacuum filtration and were allowed to dry. * Analysis: After the crystals were dry the solid was weighed and then the melting point was determined using a Melt-Temp machine.

* Results: Lab Components | Mass (g) | Volume (mL) | Nutmeg | 1.00g | -- | Flask and Testube | 83.47g | -- | Flask, Testube, and Filtrate (initial) | 90.54g | -- | Filtrate (initial) | 7.07g | -- | Erlenmeyer Flask | 74.14g | -- | Erlenmeyer flask and Filtrate (final) | 74.41g | -- | Filtrate (final) | 0.26g | -- | Acetone | -- | 1.00mL |

* These results show all the measurements that were taken from everything used in order to determine the analysis of the trimyristin extracted which is shown below.

* Analysis: Weight of Trimyristin | 0.1g | Melting Point of Trimyristin | 53.2oC – 54.3oC | % of Trimyristin extracted | 10%