Potential of neutron powder diffraction for the study of solid triacylglycerols

Abstract

Abstract We present a high-resolution neutron powder diffraction study of the triclinic β form of tripalmitin as well as in situ crystallisation experiments, monitored with neutron diffraction, conducted over three different cooling rates. We use the results from the high-resolution study to anticipate if neutron diffraction could be beneficial in differentiating the polymorphism in triacylglycerol systems. We extend on this to present analysis of a diffraction pattern of cocoa butter, to establish the potential for neutron diffraction to study the (hydrogenous) forms of triacylglycerols used in food production.