OXIDATION OF VIRGIN OLIVE OILS IN RELATION TO THE METALS .1. MANGANESE AND NICKEL

The authors studied the influence of manganese and nickel on the oxida tion of virgin olive oil. Samples obtained by addition of increasing q uantities of Mn and Ni organo-metallic salts to a virgin olive oil, ha ve been kept at room temperature and in diffuse light. The catalytic e ffect of examined metals on the oxidation has been studied by the meas urement of the usual indexes that describe this process and by the eva luation of the parameters that define the flavour and the colour. Thes e two parameters showed the major changes due to the addition of Mn an d Ni.