Chemical reactions involved in the catalytic hydrogenation of oils. II. Identification of some volatile by‐products

Gas chromatography of the volatile by‐products produced during the catalytic hydrogenation of an autoxidized soybean oil with a peroxide number of 11.2 meq/kg yielded approx 41 peaks. Twenty‐one of the gas chromatographic fractions were collected and rechromatographed, and their chemical identity studied with micro‐iR and mass spectrophotometry. These volatile by‐products, according to peak area of gas chromatogram, showed a predominance of hydrocarbons and alcohols. The fractions which have been identified aren‐octane,n‐nonane,n‐decane,n‐heptadecane,n‐hexanol,n‐heptanol,n‐decanol,n‐hexanal,n‐decanal and 3‐nonanone. Among the gas chromatographic fractions collected,n‐decanol has an odor most reminiscent of that of catalytic hydrogenation.