Instrumentation and procedure of determining antioxidants in oil fractions and natural objects.

The antioxidant activity of oils, asphaltenes, peat and sapropel extracts is investigated via microcalorimetry using the model reaction of initiated cumene oxidation. It is found out that the average content of antioxidants in asphaltenes is 0.5–0.8 mol/kg, while in peat lipids it is 0.07–0.11 mol/kg, which is substantially lower. The high activity (5.6 mol/kg) is revealed for the resin resulted from the oxidation of benzene in a barrier discharge. The method of microcalorimetry makes it possible to determine natural objects with a high antioxidant activity for the purpose of their practical use as antioxidant additives in oils, fuels, and bitumen mixtures. Antioxidants extracted from vegetable feedstock are of a special current interest. Since they exhibit a biological activity, they could be used in the production of medicines and cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]