Parameters that determine tripalmitin crystallization in sesame oil

Abstract

The crystallization of tripalmitin (TP) in sesame oil (0.98, 1.80 and 2.62% w/v) was investigated under isothermal conditions using a cooling rate similar to the one achieved by industrial crystallizers (1 K/min) and utilizing a modification of the Avrami equation. It was concluded that z, the crystallization rate constant, and the associated energy of activation (Ea) values determined through Avrami's original equation yield erroneous results. Additional results indicated that the increase in supercooling at constant oil phase viscosity (e.g., 5.25-5.5 dynes/cm2) during crystallization, produced a higher degree of nucleation without an appreciable effect on TP crystal size. In contrast, as viscosity of the oil phase decreased at equal supercooling conditions (e.g., 22.0 - 22.5C) the main crystallization process evaluated through z and Ea was crystal growth. It was also concluded that the characteristic crystallization stages of induction time for nucleation, crystal nucleation and growth, and end of crystallization were evident in the viscosity profile of the solid fraction developed during TP crystallization. The predominance of any of these processes (i.e., nucleation or crystal growth) as a function of supercooling and viscosity of the oil phase determines, to a great extent, the rheological profile during crystallization and the final viscosity value of the crystal suspension. © Copyright 1991 by Food & Nutrition Press, Inc., Trumbull, Connecticut.