ARS | Publication request: Solid fat content measurement as an alternative to total polar compound analysis

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 25, 2012
Publication Date: May 28, 2012
Citation: Bakota, E.L. 2012. Solid fat content measurement as an alternative to total polar compound analysis. IFT Annual Meeting & Expo.

Technical Abstract: Monitoring of oxidative degradation in frying oils is essential for determining an appropriate discard time. The most reliable method for monitoring the extent of oxidation in edible oils is the determination of total polar compounds (TPC). However, this method is time-consuming and not practical to execute in a quality assurance setting. However, in these cases, other rapid analytical techniques, such as benchtop NMR, may be available. The oxidative degradation of several oils was studied via analysis of solid fat content (SFC), total polar compounds, and triglyceride concentration. A strong correlation was determined between solid fat content, as measured by NMR, and total polar compounds. There is also a significant correlation between solid fat content and triglyceride concentration. While total polar compounds were also correlated with triglyceride concentrations, this relationship has been previously demonstrated. For several oil types, the correlation between SFC values and total polar compounds is strong, with R values of 0.78 or above. Linear equations were generated for each oil type, allowing estimation of total polar compounds from SFC measurements. Furthermore, solid fat content measurements are simple to perform, making this method possible for implementation in a quality assurance setting. These data suggest that SFC measurements could be used as an alternative to analysis of total polar compounds in environments with access to instrumentation but no formal laboratory setup.