Fatty alcohols are aliphatic alcohols derived from natural fats and oils. They are the counterparts of fatty acids and fatty aldehydes. They usually have even number of carbon atoms.

The smaller molecules are used in cosmetics and food, and as industrial solvents. Some of the larger molecules are important as biofuels.

Due to their amphipathic nature, fatty alcohols behave as nonionic surfactants. They find use as emulsifiers, emollients and thickeners in cosmetics and food industry.

Fatty alcohols are a common component of waxes, mostly as esters with fatty acids but also as alcohols themselves.

Those with common names include:

• capryl alcohol (1-octanol) -- 8 carbon atoms
• pelargonic alcohol (1-nonanol) -- 9 carbon atoms
• capric alcohol (1-decanol, decyl alcohol) -- 10 carbon atoms
• 1-dodecanol (lauryl alcohol) -- 12 carbon atoms
• myristyl alcohol (1-tetradecanol) -- 14 carbon atoms
• cetyl alcohol (1-hexadecanol) -- 16 carbon atoms
• palmitoleyl alcohol (cis-9-hexadecan-1-ol) -- 16 carbon atoms, unsaturated, CH₃(CH₂)₅CH=CH(CH₂)₈OH
• stearyl alcohol (1-octadecanol) -- 18 carbon atoms
• isostearyl alcohol (16-methylheptadecan-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, branched, (CH₃)₂CH-(CH₂)₁₅OH
• elaidyl alcohol (9E-octadecen-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, unsaturated, CH₃(CH₂)₇CH=CH(CH₂)₈OH
• oleyl alcohol (cis-9-octadecen-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, unsaturated
• linoleyl alcohol (9Z, 12Z-octadecadien-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, polyunsaturated
• elaidolinoleyl alcohol (9E, 12E-octadecadien-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, polyunsaturated
• linolenyl alcohol (9Z, 12Z, 15Z-octadecatrien-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, polyunsaturated
• elaidolinolenyl alcohol (9E, 12E, 15-E-octadecatrien-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, polyunsaturated
• ricinoleyl alcohol (12-hydroxy-9-octadecen-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, unsaturated, diol, CH₃(CH₂)₅CH(OH)CH₂CH=CH(CH₂)₈OH
• arachidyl alcohol (1-eicosanol) -- 20 carbon atoms
• behenyl alcohol (1-docosanol) -- 22 carbon atoms
• erucyl alcohol (cis-13-docosen-1-ol) -- 22 carbon atoms, unsaturated, CH₃(CH₂)₇CH=CH(CH₂)₁₂OH
• lignoceryl alcohol (1-tetracosanol) -- 24 carbon atoms
• ceryl alcohol (1-hexacosanol) -- 26 carbon atoms
• montanyl alcohol, cluytyl alcohol (1-octacosanol) -- 28 carbon atoms
• myricyl alcohol, melissyl alcohol (1-triacontanol) -- 30 carbon atoms
• geddyl alcohol (1-tetratriacontanol) -- 34 carbon atoms

Behenyl alcohol, lignoceryl alcohol, ceryl alcohol, 1-heptacosanol, montanyl alcohol, 1-nonacosanol, myricyl alcohol, 1-dotriacontanol, and geddyl alcohol are together classified as policosanol, with montanyl alcohol and myricyl alcohol being the most abundant.

See also:

• Fatty acids
• Fatty alcohols and aldehydes

Alcohols | Fatty alcohols | Lipids

Fettalkohol | Alcool gras