Expertise
Biodiesel and Triglycerides
Investigating Fats and Oils by 1H NMR
The composition of an oil or fat triglyceride can profoundly influence both its chemical and physical properties for example is it solid or liquid at room temperature or depending on type of unsaturation can be used as a drying oil.
Olive oil, palm oil, sunflower oil, canola oil soybean oil are all triglycerides and these oils are typically made up of saturated fatty acid such as butyric, stearic, monounsaturated oleic (C18:1) and polyunsaturated linoleic (C18:2), linolenic(C18:3). These oils are extensively used in the food industry, can be made into soap on saponification whereas trans-esterification of soybean oil with methanol produces biodiesel and glycerol.
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| 1H NMR spectrum of soybean oil
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What can NMR Measure molar levels of
- Saturated fatty acid
- Mono unsaturated fatty acid
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids i.e. C18:2, C18:3
| Composition measured by NMR |
| Sample |
SFA |
Oleic |
Linoleic |
Linolenic |
|
| soybean |
13.7% |
25.4% |
53.1% |
7.8% |
100.0% |
Palm Oil |
50.9% |
38.6% |
10.5% |
0.0% |
100.0% |
Olive Oil |
13.6% |
78.2% |
8.2% |
0.0% |
100.0% |
Olive Oil2 |
11.0% |
80.9% |
8.1% |
0.0% |
100.0% |
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