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Rapid quantitative determination of free fatty acids in fats and oils by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Ismail A. A.,
Voort F. R.,
Emo G.,
Sedman J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02552703
Subject(s) - fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , chemistry , titration , attenuated total reflection , infrared spectroscopy , infrared , oleic acid , spectroscopy , methanol , chromatography , fatty acid , analytical chemistry (journal) , organic chemistry , biochemistry , chemical engineering , physics , optics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Rapid direct and indirect Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic methods were developed for the determination of free fatty acids (FFA) in fats and oils based on both transmission and attenuated total reflectance approaches, covering an analytical range of 0.2–8% FFA. Calibration curves were prepared by adding oleic acid to the oil chosen for analysis and measuring the C=O band @ 1711 cm –1 after ratioing the sample spectrum against that of the same oil free of fatty acids. For fats and oils that may have undergone significant thermal stress or extensive oxidation, an indirect method was developed in which 1% KOH/methanol is used to extract the FFAs and convert them to their potassium salts. The carboxylate anion absorbs @ 1570 cm –1 , well away from interfering absorptions of carbonyl‐containing oxidation end products that are commonly present in oxidized oils. Both approaches gave results comparable in precision and accuracy to that of the American Oil Chemists’ Society reference titration method. Through macroprogramming, the FFA analysis procedure was completely automated, making it suitable for routine quality control applications. As such, the method requires no knowledge of FTIR spectroscopy on the part of the operator, and an analysis takes less than 2 min.