ИСТИНА

Inspite of the opinion, which has been formed during the initial period of phase transfer catalysis (PTC) development, it was shown that the glycerides of longchain fatty acids can be easily alkaline hydrolized in the PTC conditions. The effects of concentration of alkaline and phase transfer catalyst, of the catalyst type and of the nature of organic solvent upon the degree of saponification of the sunflower oil have been studied. On the basis of the data obtained the conclusion was made that the hydrolysis of glicerides proceeds according to the mechanism of the genuine PTC. The longchain acid carboxylates, formed as the result of saponification of fat and oil glycerides, by the interaction with methyltosylate and dimethylsulfate in the PTC conditions are easily transformed into the methyl esters of fatty acids. The composition of the methyl esters formed corresponds to the acid composition of fats and oils. This is why the two step PTC transformation of glycerides into the methyl esters of fatty acids can be successfully used for determination of acid composition of fats and oils.