Impact of low molecular weight acid and moisture on the thermal ageing properties of palm oil

This study examines the effect of low molecular weight acid (LMA), moisture and oxygen on the thermal ageing characteristics of refined, bleached, and deodorised palm oil (RBDPO). The paper moisture was varied between 0.5 and 3.5. The oil was initially subjected to 0.2 g of LMA and 20 mbar of oxygen pressure. The thermal ageing experiment was performed at 120 °C and 140 °C for 28 days. Several dielectric and physiochemical parameters were measured which included dielectric dissipation factor, relative permittivity, resistivity, moisture in oil, acidity, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It is found that LMA and moisture in paper do not affect the relative permittivity of RBDPO and mineral oil (MO). The dielectric dissipation factor of RBDPO and MO reveals slight increment trends within the ageing time. The decrements of resistivities occur after 7 days of ageing for both RBDPO and MO while only RBDPO shows decrement trend of moisture in oil. The ageing patterns of relative permittivities, dielectric dissipation factors and resistivities for RBDPO are similar to MO. The increment of acidity for RBDPO is more apparent that MO throughout the ageing time. All RBDPOs are more resistant to ageing than MO based on the TGA.