Thermal oxidation of synthetic triglycerides. II. Analysis of the volatile condensable and noncondensable phases

Tripalmitin, 1‐lauryl dipalmitin, 2‐lauryl dipalmitin, 1‐oleyl dipalmitin and 2‐oleyl dipalmitin were subjected to thermal oxidation at 200 C in the presence of air. The volatile consensable products of oxidation collected after 3 and 24 hours were analyzed for carbonyl and carboxyl compounds. The volatile non‐condensable products were quantitatively examined for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. The results indicated that long chain carbonyls were formed in the initial stages of oxidation. When the oxidation was allowed to proceed for 24 hours, saturated aldehydes from C1 to C16, methyl ketones, and other ketones were found in the volatile oxidation products. A variety of fatty acids from C4 to C16 were identified in the volatile fatty acids. The presence of dicarboxylic acids indicated that oxygen attacked the double bond of oleic acid in 1‐oleyl dipalmitin. Possible mechanisms for the formation of the decomposition products were discussed.