title: Interrelationship between viscosity and electrical properties for edible oils.
abstract: Electrical properties of edible oil depend upon its total polar component, temperature and the frequency of the applied voltage. Dielectric constant, dielectric loss tangent and electrical conductivity were measured for cottonseed (Gossypium sp.), ground nut (Apios americana), mustard (Brasicca compestriss) and sun flower (Helianthus annuus) oils in the temperature range of 20 to 100°C so as to assess the potential of their applicability for assessing the quality of oils. Viscosity of the oils is an other important physical property associated with their processing and quality control. Viscosity of these oils was experimentally measured. The correlation of viscosity with dielectric loss tangent and viscosity with electrical conductivity were tested. The best correlating relations along with correlation constants, valid for the temperature range of 20-100°C are presented. The regression equation developed relating viscosity with loss tangent and electrical conductivity had high correlation coefficient (R(2) > 0.96) for all the four oils within temperature range of 20-100°C.
authors.affiliation: Division of Agricultural Engineering, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, 226002 India.
authors.forename: Dilip
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 India.
authors.forename: Amarjit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004 India.
authors.forename: Paramjit Singh
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Tarsikka
keywords: Dielectric constant; Edible oils; Electrical conductivity; Loss tangent; Viscosity