title: Production of natural antioxidants from vegetable oil deodorizer distillates: effect of catalytic hydrogenation.
abstract: Natural tocopherols are one of the main types of antioxidants found in living creatures, but they also have other critical biological functions. The biopotency of natural (+)-alpha-tocopherol (RRR) is 36% higher than that of the synthetic racemic mixture and 300% higher than the SRR stereoisomer. Vegetable oil deodorizer distillates (DD) are an excellent source of natural tocopherols. Catalytic hydrogenation of DD preconcentrates has been suggested as a feasible route for recovery of tocopherols in high yield. However, it is important to know whether the hydrogenation operation, as applied to these tocopherol-rich mixtures, is capable of preserving the chiral (RRR) character, which is critical to its biopotency. Fortified (i.e., (+)-alpha-tocopherol enriched) sunflower oil and methyl stearate, as well as sunflower oil DD, were fully hydrogenated using commercial Ni and Pd catalysts (120-180 degrees C; 20-60 psig). Products were analyzed by chiral HPLC. Results show that the desired chiral configuration (RRR) is fully retained. Thus, the hydrogenation route can be safely considered as a valid alternative for increasing the efficiency of tocopherol recovery processes from DDs while preserving their natural characteristics.
authors.affiliation: INTEC, Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química, Universidad Nacional del Litoral and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Güemes 3450, S3000GLN Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Ayelén
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Baltanás
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002384:Catalysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D057168:Distillation / Q000379:methods*; D006865:Hydrogenation; D007536:Isomerism; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013228:Stearates; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010938:Plant Oils; D013228:Stearates; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D024505:Tocopherols