Optimization and Validation of Rancimat Operational Parameters to Determine Walnut Oil Oxidative Stability

This study was performed to optimize and validate Rancimat (Metrohm Ltd., Herisau, Switzerland) operational parameters including temperature, air-flow, and sample weight to minimize Induction-Time (IT) and IT-Coefficient-of-Variation (CV), using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). According to a Box–Behnken experimental design, walnut oil equivalent to 3-, 6-, or 9-g was added to each reaction vessel and heated to 100, 110, or 120 °C, while an air-flow equal to 10-, 15-, or 20-L·h−1 was forced through the reaction vessels. A stationary point was found per response variable (IT and CV), and optimal parameters were defined considering the determined stationary points for both response variables at 100 °C, 25 L·h−1, and 3.9 g. Optimal parameters provided an IT of 5.42 ± 0.02 h with a CV of 1.25 ± 0.83%. RSM proved to be a useful methodology to find Rancimat operational parameters that translate to accurate and efficient values of walnut oil IT.

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