RANDOM NATURE OF TRIACYLGLYCEROLS PRODUCED BY THE CATALYZED INTERESTERIFICATION OF SHORT-CHAIN AND LONG-CHAIN FATTY-ACID TRIGLYCERIDES

Sodium methoxide catalyzed interesterification of saturated long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) triglycerides and short-chain fatty acid (SOFA) tri glycerides has been used to produce new triacylglycerols for food use. The triacylglycerol compositions contain both long- and short-chain f atty acids. Excess, unreacted SCFA triglycerides were removed from the reaction mixture by vacuum steam deodorization. The recovered composi tions have been examined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, supercr itical fluid chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography, capi llary high-temperature gas chromatography, and total acid analysis. Th e,analytical data are used to quantitate the amounts of triesters cont aining one two, or three long-chain fatty acids. The relative concentr ations of these three triester structures are found to be in good agre ement with values calculated by the statistical model for random inter esterification.