Abietic acid (also known as abietinic acid or sylvic acid) is a mild organic acid found in coniferous trees. It is a commercially important component of paints, soaps, foods, and soldering flux, and is the primary component of resin acid.

Characteristics

Abietic acid is found in pine trees, including: Pure abietic acid is a colorless solid, but commercial samples are usually a glassy or partly crystalline yellowish solid that melts at temperatures as low as 85 C. Abietic acid is soluble in alcohols, acetone, and ethers. Its ester or salt is called an abietate. Abietic acid belongs to the abietane diterpene group of organic compounds derived from four isoprene units.

Preparation

Abietic acid is extracted from tree rosin (via isomerization) and is the most abundant of several closely related organic acids that constitute most of rosin, the solid portion of the oleoresin of coniferous trees. Resin acids are converted into ester gum by reaction with controlled amounts of glycerol or other polyhydric alcohols.

Uses

Abietic acid has drying properties, and as ester gum is used in paints, varnishes, and lacquers. It is also used in soaps, for the analysis of resins, and the preparation of metal resinates.

As rosin

Rosin, of which abietic acid is the principal component:

Safety