DETERMINATION OF CHARACTERISTIC FAT INDEX VALUES OF FATTY OILS BY NIRSPECTROMETRY

The determination of characteristic fat index values of fats using NIR spectrometry is described. For calibration a set of mixtures of oils or liquid waxes with known characteristic numbers is prepared and the spectra are measured. Using principal component analysis or factor ana lysis from the calibration spectra the factors for the different chara cteristic values are obtained. From the spectra of the analyses the di fferent characteristic values and the content of water are determined simultanously, using the related factors. The reliability of results b y spectrometry and the determination by titration procedures are evalu ated by means of statistical procedures. The main advantage of the NIR -method is the short time of analysis and the simultaneous determinati on.