Applicability of the turbidity test for castor oil to some other hydroxy and epoxy fatty compounds

A large number of hydroxy as well as nonhydroxy fatty compounds were employed to explore the applicability of the turbidity test for castor oil (1) and to understand the nature of the turbidity. The test was capable of detecting up to ca. 2% of hydroxy, hydroperoxy, and epoxy fatty acids and their esters, also the epoxy, acetoxy, and hydroxy fatty alcohols present in a petroleum ether solution of a nonpolar triglyceride oil. Monohydric primary alcohols, sterols, mono‐ and diglycerides were not detected. The turbidity developed, whether H2SO4 contained ammonium molybdate or not, because of the formation of a sulfate and its precipitation from the petroleum ether solution of oil.