FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF VEGETABLE OILS AND FATS

Abstract

The main objective of this work was to identify the fatty acid composition of several vegetable oils and fats. Twenty vegetable oils and fats were analyzed for its fatty acid composition by gas chromatography (gc-fid). Among the evaluated oils the higher contents of saturated fatty acids were found in the coconut and palm fats, that showed above 80% of saturated fatty acids. Except palm fat, that presented about 50% in saturated fatty acids, all other oils showed saturated fatty acids below 25%, being the canola oil that presented the highest unsaturated fatty acid content. Furthermore, canola oil, in the same way soybean oil, showed between 8 and 10% of omega-3 fatty acids. The borage and evening primrose oils differed from the others by presenting appreciable amount of G-linolenic acid, and the linseed oil for presenting more than 50% in linolenic acid. The rice, peanut, cotton and corn oils showed higher content of oleic and linoleic acids.