Vegetable oils
Recommended antioxidants:

  • Antrancine 220
  • Phytrox LT 10 
  • Tocomix range

The vast majority of currently available oils and fats are of vegetable origin, derived from a wide range of oil crops. The largest oil crop is now palm, which recently overtook soybean oil in both volume and value. Vegetable oils vary widely in fatty acid composition and oxidative stability.

Increasing use of polyunsaturated oils – which are more sensitive to oxidation – has given rise to a need for more potent antioxidants. Recent moves to reduce the use of hydrogenation have also increased the demand for new antioxidants, especially natural ones. Often, antioxidants are added shortly after the refining process to ensure maximum protection throughout the life of the oil.

The table below lists the fatty acid compositions of the most common vegetable oils and fats.

Iodine value can be generally used to establish relative oxidative stability. The lower the iodine value, the more stable the oil. However, this also depends on natural antioxidant content before refining. To establish the optimum antioxidant combination, you should always run an (accelerated) oxidation test.


OIL/FAT

IODINE

PALMITIC

STEARIC

OLEIC

LINOEIC

LINOLENIC

 

VALUE

C16 : 0

C18 : 0

C18 : 1

C18 : 2

C18: 3

Palm oil

50

43

5

38

10

-

Palm olein

60

38

4

45

11

-

Olive

85

11

4

75

7

-

Arachide

90

10

3

55

25

-

Cotton seed

100

22

3

20

50

-

Rape seed/Canola

105

4

1

76

10

8

Rice bran

110

16

2

38

40

2

Sesame

115

9

5

40

43

-

Corn

120

13

3

32

52

-

Wheat germ

125

14

1

28

44

10

Sunflower

130

6

4

23

63

-

Grape seed

135

7

5

18

70

-

Soybean

140

10

5

24

49

8

Safflower

145

6

4

12

78

-

Walnut

150

8

2

20

56

14

Lin seed

185

7

3

25

12

50

 
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