Autooxidation of Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Esters

The shape of DSC curves of non-isothermal oxidation of fats was explained. Two main exothermic effects overlapped partially are caused by hydroperoxide formation (first peak) and by further oxidation of peroxides (second peak). The oxidation of oils and lipid analogues of various peroxide concentration showed that only the start of the oxidation process is affected by initial concentration of peroxides, other temperatures determined from DSC curves are not connected with this parameter. The computer simulations gave the best agreement of theoretical and experimental data for kinetic scheme of a two-step consecutive reaction with autocatalytic start. The comparison of activation energies calculated for isothermal and non-isothermal autooxidation of unsaturated fatty acids and their esters also confirmed this interpretation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.