Lipids

Acrolein Test
 Used to detect the presence of glycerol
grouping as in coconut oil
 This can be detected when the sample is
heated with dehydrating agent such as
KHSO4.
 It is readily detected by its characteristic
acrid, irritating odor (burnt fat odor)
Acrolein Test
 Test for Unsaturation
 Unsaturated lipids undergo addition reaction
with iodine.
 The iodine adds to the unsaturated portion
giving an iodinated product as indicated by
the decolorization of the reagent (I2 in HgCl2)

Oleic acid – unsaturated fatty acid

Stearic acid – saturated fatty acid
Coconut oil – contains saturated fatty acids
Olive oil – contains unsaturated fatty acids
 Test for Unsaturation
CH3(CH2)7CH CH(CH2)7COOH + I2

CH3(CH2)7CH-CH(CH2)7COOH

9,10-Diiodooctadecanoic acid
 Test for Phosphate
 PO43-group s in lecithin may be released as
inorganic phosphate by incinerating the
sample and reacts with (NH4)2MoO4 to give a
bright yellow precipitate of
ammoniumphosphomolybdate,
(NH4)3PO4(MoO3)12

3NH4+ + PO43- + 12MoO42- + 24 H+

(NH4)3PO4(MoO3)12
 Emulsification Test
 The presence of polar and nonpolar groups in
bile salts and lecithin enable them to aid in
forming a homogeneous water-lipid mixture of
fine bubbles
Lieberman-Burchard Reaction
 Cholesterol gives characteristic colored
condensation products with acetic anhydride
and conc. H2SO4.

 Unsaturated sterols react more rapidly than

the saturated ones.
Lieberman-Burchard Reaction
 Carr-Price Reaction

 Vitamin A is detected by this reaction

to give a play of color from blue to
green to gray to pink solution. (cod-
liver oil and -carotene)
Carr-Price Reaction

 Immediately
in the
antimony
trichloride
solutions
blue
schlieren are
formed.
Carr-Price Reaction
 The relationship of the vitamin A alcohols to
naturally occurring b -carotene is as follows:

 Beta-carotene
 Modified Furter-Meyer Test
 This test is used to determine tocopherols,
Vit. E in foodstuffs.
 The bronze-red color which develops is
specific for tocopherols.
 Carotenoids and certain sterols produce a
yellow or brown color and when present in
sufficient amount may mask the bronze-red
color of small amount of tocopherols.
 Modified Furter-Meyer Test
a -Tocopherol (alpha) - 5,7,8-trimethyltocol
 The pure tocopherols are fat-soluble oils which
are capable of esterification to form crystalline
compounds. The tocopherols are stable to heat
and acids in the absence of oxygen, but are
rapidly oxidized in the presence of nascent
oxygen, peroxides, or other oxidizing agents.
The tocopherols are sensitive to ultraviolet light
and are excellent antioxidants in the free form.