Thermal stability of Vernonia galamensis seed oil

The physicochemical changes of refined vernonia oil-RVO (which naturally contains epoxidized triglycerides) upon heating was evaluated and is reported in this manuscript. A boiling point range of 183 °C to 190 °C (at 760 mm Hg) for the vernonia oil was obtained using the Siwolobboff's method. T...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 161 - 167
Main Authors: Benny M. Wamalwa, Esther N. Njuguna, Paul M. Shiundu, Geoffrey N Kamau
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Chemical Society of Ethiopia 01-12-2000
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Summary:The physicochemical changes of refined vernonia oil-RVO (which naturally contains epoxidized triglycerides) upon heating was evaluated and is reported in this manuscript. A boiling point range of 183 °C to 190 °C (at 760 mm Hg) for the vernonia oil was obtained using the Siwolobboff's method. The oil changed its physical appearance and consistency in the course of the heating. A homogenous free-flowing beige-sand shade refined vernonia oil at room temperature (25 °C) was transformed irreversibly to an intense-brown shade, becoming increasingly more viscous with increase in temperature, and ceasing to flow momentarily at 188 °C. On cooling to room temperature, the oil solidified into a brown rubber-like elastic material. The oil also exhibited a reduction in its oxirane content from 1.39 plus or minus 0.004 equivalent HBr kg-l at 25 °C to 0.542 plus or minus 0.002 equivalent HBr kg-l at 70 °C. This signifies a 61% drop in oxirane content for the 45 °C temperature rise. These findings point towards a thermally driven polymerization and/or decomposition of the refined vernonia oil (RVO).
ISSN:1011-3924
1726-801X