Elementary plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2+1)

Constants of fats and oils

• Since fats and oils form essential nutrient of human diet, it is necessary to identify a pure fat or to determine the proportion of different types of fat or oil mixed as adulterant in edible oils and fats like butter and ghee.
• With an adequate knowledge of the characteristic composition of fats or oils, it is possible to identify the fat or oil under investigation.
• The chemical constants also give an idea about the nature of fatty acids present in fats or oils.
• Even though gas chromatographic method is available to identify and quantify the fatty acids present in fat or oil, the physical and chemical constants are still used in routine public health laboratories where such sophisticated facilities are lacking.