SPECIFIC-HEAT CAPACITIES OF PURE TRIGLYCERIDES BY HEAT-FLUX DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY

The specific heat capacities of some triglycerides commonly found in p alm oil were determined with a heat-flux differential scanning calorim eter. The specific heat capacity measurements were made under the opti mum operating conditions determined earlier: scan rate 17 deg . min(-1 ), sample mass 21 mg and purge gas (nitrogen) flow rate 50 ml/min. Pur e triglycerides (four simple and four mixed) were used in the experime nts. The four simple triglycerides were trilaurin, trimyristin, tripal mitin and tristearin, and the mixed triglycerides were 1,2-dimyristoyl -3-oleoyl, 1,2-dimyristoyl-3-palmitoyl, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-oleoyl and 1 ,2-dioleoyl-3-palmitoyl. The results of this study are compared with l iterature values and also with values obtained by using estimation met hods. The experimental specific heat capacities are within +/-1% preci sion with a 95% confidence level.