Polarographic studies of fat oxidation

Abstract

The polarograms of autoxidized soybean oil indicated the presence of a peroxide, which was formed in considerably larger proportion in soybean oil than in methyl esters of similar composition. This peroxide was reduced at more positive potentials than the hydroperoxide at the dropping mercury electrode. In solvent fractionation, using mixtures of Skellysolve F and acetone, this peroxide associates with the polymerized fraction. Hydrogenated soybean oil samples and olive oil also showed the presence of this peroxide in considerable concentrations in the period that they began to give turbid solutions in Skellysolve F. Soybean oil oxidized in the presence of cobalt catalyst contained negligible proportions of peroxides normally reduced at the dropping mercury electrode. Attempts to concentrate the peroxides from methyl oleate oxidized in a similar manner did not succeed.