AUTOXIDATION OF TRIOLEOYLGLYCEROL

Trioleoylglycerol was oxidized in the dark at 60 degrees C under oxyge n. The composition of trioleoylglycerol oxidation products was analyze d by reversed phase HPLC, and the products were characterized intact b y chemical ionization mass spectrometry, proton and carbon nuclear mag netic resonance spectrometry and by capillary gas chromatography after conversion to methyl esters. Trioleoylglycerol autoxidation proceeded with mono-hydroperoxide as the only oxidation product formed initiall y, the bis-hydroperoxide was detected by 84 days, and the tris-hydrope roxide detected by 91 days. After 105 days, a peroxide value of 55 Meg /kg was obtained. The oxidation mixture at this point consisted of mon o-hydroperoxide (47%), bis-hydroperoxide (50%) and tris-hydroperoxide (3%). The trioleoylglycerol autoxidation is thus sequential with the m ono-hydroperoxide formed first, followed by the bis- and tris-hydroper oxides, respectively.