Influence of solvent content on phase-transition temperatures of oil sediment and solution viscosity in acetone canola oil systems

The effect of acetone on phase transition behavior of sediment in canola oil was studied by differential scanning calorimetry under dynamic heating/cooling regimes. The melting temperature of sediment decreased with an increase in the solvent content of canola oil, suggesting an increase in the solubility of sediment in the oil solution. The crystallization of sediment in oil solution was facilitated by acetone, as indicated by the increase in the sediment crystallization temperature. Acetone dramatically reduced the viscosity of canola oil, particularly in the first 30% addition. The reduction of viscosity was far less with further addition of acetone. These results suggested that the optimum range of acetone content needed for sediment precipitationin canola ail would be in the range of 30-40%. A linear relationship was found between the density of canola oil and temperature. The influence of solvent on the density of canola oil/acetone solution can be accounted for by the mixing theory of ideal solutions, whereas the effect of temperature on the dynamic viscosity of oil solution is best described by a modified Arrhenius equation.