Solid fat content determination using ultrasonic velocity measurements

Abstract

SummaryThe ultrasonic group velocity has been measured through 0–20% mass fraction samples of tristearin, tripalmitin, trilaurin and 1‐oleodipalmitin suspended in paraffin oil at 25°C and 1 MHz. For tristearin, tripalmitin and trilaurin there is an increase of about 3.1 m/sec per 1% increase in insoluble triglyceride in suspension. For trilaurin and 1‐oleodipalmitin there is a slight decrease in velocity with increasing soluble triglyceride. The technique may, therefore, prove useful for determination of solubilities of triglycerides in suspension, as well as for determining solid fat contents. For the tristearin/paraffin oil suspensions there is a good correlation between the solid content added and that predicted by a theoretical formula available in the literature (correlation = 0.998 for twenty samples). The reproducibility of the solid fat content determination is 0.2%, the accuracy is about 0.6%. The technique is easily automated, cheap, accurate, rapid and non‐intrusive and should, therefore, prove useful both as an in‐line quality control monitoring device and as a new instrumental technique for research applications.