title: Temperature- and pressure-dependent densities, self-diffusion coefficients, and phase behavior of monoacid saturated triacylglycerides: toward molecular-level insights into processing.
abstract: Using molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations the densities and self-diffusion coefficients of a range of liquid monoacid triacylglycerides (TAGs) have been studied as a function of temperature and, for the first time,   pressure. While offset by their ambient properties, the response of the TAGs to temperature and pressure is  qualitatively similar. Application of pressure was found to significantly increase densities and reduce diffusion of the TAG molecules, suggesting that it may have as much a role in processing and crystallizing TAGs as supercooling does. A solution of glycerol tripalmitate and glycerol trihexanoate was also studied, showing that  application of pressure should lead to a significant decrease in the saturation point of the solution, which is an important consideration for processing TAGs. Different solid/liquid interfaces of glycerol tripalmitate have also been investigated. Although crystal growth could not be observed, dissolution of one interface was seen in the MD simulations. The results suggest that over moderate distances the melting of TAGs may be cooperative in nature, rather than involving dissolution of individual TAG molecules.
authors.affiliation: Process Systems Engineering, Technische Universität München , Weihenstephaner Steig 23, D-85354 Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Briesen
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D044367:Phase Transition; D011312:Pressure; D012996:Solutions; D013696:Temperature; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D014280:Triglycerides; C005859:tripalmitin