An increment in the amount of FFAs in a
fat or
oil sample indicates hydrolysis of triglycerides. Such reaction occurs by the action of
lipase enzyme and it is an indicator of inadequate processing and storage conditions. The source of the enzyme can be the tissue from which the oil or fat was extracted or it can be a contaminant from other cells including microorganisms. When oils and fats become
rancid,
triglycerides are converted into
fatty acids and
glycerol, causing an increase in acid value. A similar situation is observed during aging of biodiesel through analogous
oxidation and when subjected to prolonged high temperatures (
ester thermolysis) or through exposure to acids or bases (acid/base ester
hydrolysis).
Transesterification of waste cooking oil, having high acid value and high water content, can be performed using
heteropolyacids such as
dodecatungstophosphoric acid (PW12) as a catalyst. In 2007, Sahoo
et al. made biodiesel consisting of mono-esters of
polanga oil extract of the plant
Calophyllum inophyllum produced by triple stage transesterification and blended with high speed diesel, which was then tested for its use as a diesel substitute in a
single cylinder diesel engine. ==Testing==