Model of Degradation Kinetics for Coconut Oil at Various Heating Temperatures

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the model of degradation kinetics for coconut oil at various heatingtemperatures. The oxidative stability of coconut oil at temperature variations between 130 and 200 °C wasinvestigated by UV absorbance measurement. The induction times (time-to-abrupt change) were determinedfrom the curves between the absorbance at 270 nm, related to amount of secondary oxidation products, andtime. The model of degradation kinetics was empirically estimated using non-linear regression. From theobtained model, coconut oil degraded via at least two different pathways while being heated, i.e., autocatalysisand first order reactions. This model could describe the entire degradation curve including the induction timebehavior of coconut oil at heating temperatures below 150 °C. However, at higher heating temperatures, theother pathways of degradation might occur which could not be explained by the proposed model. Key Words: Degradation kinetics; Oxidative stability; Induction time; Coconut oil