DESCRIPTION

Hydroxylated Lecithin occurs as a light yellow substance that may vary in consistency from fluid to plastic, depending on the content of free fatty acid and oil and on whether it contains diluents. It is derived from a complex mixture of acetone-insoluble phosphatides from soybean and other plant lecithins, consisting chiefly of phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and phosphatidyl inositol as well as other minor phospholipids and glycolipids mixed with varying amounts of triglycerides, fatty acids, sterols, and carbohydrates. The mixture is treated with hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, lactic acid, and sodium hydroxide or with hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, and sodium hydroxide to produce a hydroxylated product having an iodine value approximately 10% lower than that of the starting material. It is partially soluble in water but hydrates readily to form emulsions; it is more dispersible and hydrates more readily than crude lecithin.