Synthesis and physicochemical characterization of mixed diacid triglycerides that contain elaidic acid

The synthesis of symmetrical and asymmetrical palmito- and stearo-elaidic triglycerides (PEP, SES, EPP, PEE, ESS, and SEE, in which P=palmitic, S=stearic, and E=elaidic acid) was undertaken to investigate their polymorphism. The chemical pathways and the purification steps, including crystallization and adsorption chromatography, are described. The different chromatographic analyses (gas-liquid chromatography: carbon number profile and fatty acid methyl ester profile, and high-performance liquid chromatography) revealed that the purity of the synthesized products was superior to 99% except for SES (>96%). The thermal behavior, as well as the polymorphism of these triglycerides, has been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy at variable temperatures. The six compounds crystallize according to a double chainlength packing. The most stable polymorphic form of palmito-elaidic triglycerides belongs to the β′ variety, whereas the stearo-elaidic triglycerides are β stable.