Epoxy Acids and Epoxidized Oils I: Quantitative Evaluation of Naturally Occurring Epoxy Fatty Acids in Some Malvaceous seed Oils

Abstract

Quantitative evaluation of the epoxy acid contents of three seed oils, namely, Malva parviflora, Hibiscus esculentus (v. Baladi) and Hibiscus esculentus (v. Romey) were made using gas liquid chromatography, hydrobromination and picric acid methods. The epoxy acid percentages determined in the three samples were: 8.2, 2.5 and 3.1 respectively by gas liquid chromatography; 8.9, 5.4 and 6.1 by hydrobromination and 9.5, 4.9 and 7.0 by picric acid method. Picric acid method was found to be most satisfactory and gave reproducible results.