Isolation and Antibacterial Activity Test of Lauric Acid from Crude Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera L.)

Isolation of lauric acid from crude coconut oil (CCO) has been done. Neutralization of CCO using 30% Na2CO3 solution could decrease its acid value from 1.69 to 0.48. Transesterification reactions of neutral coconut oil with methanol and K2CO3 at 55 °C in 3 hours produced methyl laurate in 52% purity. Methyl laurate with 87% purity could be isolated by fractionatal distillation at 130-140 °C. Hydrolysis of methyl laurate with NaOH produced solid lauric acidin 84% yield. Lauric acid at 5% concentration could inhibit the growth of all bacteria tested but it is still lower than Ciprofloxacin.