Accelerated oxidation tests in emulsions. A comparison of different oxidation promoters

Accelerated oxidation tests are often used in shelf-life studies and evaluation of technological changes. The aim of this work was to compare, in an accelerated oxidation test on oil/water emulsions, three oxidation promoters, having different mechanisms of action and adjusted in order to provide similar oxidation rates. The results showed that, though the rates of increase of oxidized triacylglycerols were actually similar, the evolution of the volatile profile of the emulsions was quite different according to the different promoters. The radical promoter favoured the tracylgycerol decomposition and the further oxidation of volatiles. It was not selective against the different fatty acids, either. The metallic promoter mainly involved the polyunsaturated fatty acids, more susceptible to the oxidative phenomena, in spite of their relative abundance. The test at 50 °C presented a slight delay in the evolution of the volatile pattern.