Total and individual tocopherol contents of sunflower oil, processed either
by chemical refining (CR), physical refining (PR) or soft column deodoriza
tion (SCD) methods were investigated. Total tocopherol content gradually de
creased until the end of the refining process (the deodorization stage). Am
ong the refining methods used CR and PR caused higher losses in the tocophe
rol content when compared with the SCD method. The content of alpha-, beta-
, gamma- and delta -tocopherols also decreased as a result of the refining
process. These significant losses in beta- and gamma -tocopherol contents w
ere determined after the deodorization stage.