Iodine Number

Iodine number is an indicator of the content of unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, arachidonic) in fat, oil or other organic substances, which is expressed by the amount of iodine added to 100 g of the test substance. This indicator is used to assess the quality and nutritional value of food products, especially vegetable oils and fats.

The iodine value depends on the presence of unsaturated fatty acids in the test substance. The more of these acids, the more iodine is added to 100 g of the substance. For example, oleic acid, found in olive oil, has a high iodine value, while linoleic acid, found in corn oil, has a low iodine value.

To determine the iodine number, the iodization method is used, which consists of mixing the substance under study with iodine and maintaining it for a certain time at a certain temperature. Iodine is then separated from the mixture and its amount is determined.

This indicator is used both in the food industry and in medicine. It helps to assess the quality of food products, especially plant foods, and determine their nutritional value. In addition, the iodine number is used to determine the quality of fats and oils that are used in the production of cosmetics, perfumes and other industries.

Thus, iodine value is an important indicator of the quality and nutritional value of food and fats and oils. It allows you to evaluate the content of unsaturated fatty acids and determine the quality of the product.

Iodine value is the iodine content that has passed into solution from a sample of fat after distilling off the iodine.

It has been established that, depending on the molar mass, the fat molecule can change the degree of yellowness. If fats are considered as paraffin crystals, then it is desirable to have a high iodine number. Upon reaching a certain critical value (about 50), the molecules do not form crystals, and the dye penetrates between them. Therefore, the higher the iodine value, the more unsaturated fatty acids are contained in fats and oils and the more polyunsaturated acids they contain