title: Composition, phase behavior and thermal stability of natural edible fat from rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) seed.
abstract: In this paper, the chemical composition, the main physicochemical properties, phase behavior and thermal stability of rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) seed fat were studied. These results showed that the almond-like decorticated seed represents 6.1% of the wet weight fruit and is: 1.22% ash, 7.80% protein, 11.6% crude fiber, 46% carbohydrates, and 33.4% fat (d.b.). The main fatty acids in the drupe fat were 40.3% oleic, 34.5% arachidic, 6.1% palmitic, 7.1% stearic, 6.3% gondoic, and 2.9% behenic; the refraction, saponification and iodine values were 1.468, 186, and 47.0, respectively. The phase behavior analysis showed relatively simple crystallization and melting profiles: crystallization showed three well-differentiated groups of triglycerides around maximum peaks at +30.8, +15.6 and -18.1 degrees C; the fat-melting curve had a range between -14.5 and +51.8 degrees C with a fusion enthalpy of 124.3 J/g. The thermal stability analyzed in an inert atmosphere of N(2) and in a normal oxidizing atmosphere, showed that in the latter, fat decomposition begins at 237.3 degrees C and concludes at 529 degrees C, with three stages of decomposition. According to these results, rambutan seed fat has physicochemical and thermal characteristics that may become interesting for specific applications in several segments of the food industry.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. Dos Vistas s/n carretera Xalapa-Las Trancas, 91000 Xalapa, Ver., Mexico. jsolis@uv.mx
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Solís-Fuentes
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camey-Ortíz
authors.forename: María del Rosario
authors.initials: Mdel R
authors.lastname: Hernández-Medel
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pérez-Mendoza
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durán-de-Bazúa
mesh_terms: D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D003460:Crystallization; D005223:Fats / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D029631:Sapindaceae / Q000196:embryology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005223:Fats