Systematic investigation of co-crystallization properties of
triacylglycerols containing palmitic and oleic acids in relation with
palm oil dry fractionation
Abstract
Due to its unique triacylglycerol composition, palm oil has the
particularity of being semi-solid at room temperature. Major fatty acids
are palmitic (P) and oleic (O) types, tripalmitin (P3), oleo-dipalmitin
(P2O) and palmito-diolein (PO2) being the most abundant tri-saturated,
mono-unsaturated and di-unsaturated triacylglycerols. Palm oil is also
the most fractionated oil worldwide, mostly in multi-step operations.
Dry fractionation is a process that combines crystallization and
separation of partially crystallized oil; in the case of palm oil, the
main triacylglycerols involved are obviously P3, P2O and PO2. Crude palm
oil is made up of symmetrical and asymmetric isomers and, more
particularly, contains POP and OPP in a fixed ratio. This ratio may
sometimes be modified during the refining process. Adverse effects of
excessive OPP content affect the dry fractionation process and are also
reflected in the crystallization properties of the produced solid and
liquid fractions. It is therefore fundamental to understand at a
molecular level the interactions involved. This paper details and
compares the binary phase diagrams of several systems: PPP-POP, PPP-OPP;
PPP-POO, POP-POO, OPP-POO and POP-OPP, obtained by combining
differential scanning calorimetry and variable temperature powder X-ray
diffraction. Co-crystallization properties are analyzed in dynamic mode
(heating after quenching) and after tempering (few months stabilization
at room temperature). The ternary phase diagrams PPP/POP/POO and
PPP/OPP/POO give a complementary representation in terms of isothermal
melting lines. Better understanding of these molecular interactions is
critical for perspicacious carrying out of the palm oil dry
fractionation process.