41.1.
18 alcohol to flask, shake mixture ³5 min, and invert beaker over neck
AOAC Official Method 920.160
Saponification Number
(Koettstorfer Number) of Oils and Fats
Titrimetric Method
First Action 1920
Final Action
A. Reagent
Al co holic po tas sium hy drox ide so lu tion [JAOAC 19,
427(1936)].—(1) Reflux 1.2 L alcohol 30 min in distilling flask
with 10 g KOH and 6 g granulated Al (or Al foil). Distil and collect
1 L after discarding first 50 mL. Dissolve 40 g KOH in this 1 L
alcohol, keeping temperature <15°C while dissolving alkali. Keep
solution in glass-stoppered bottle. Or, (2) Crush 40 g KOH in
185 mm mortar. Add 45 g granulated CaO and grind mixture to
powder. From 1 L alcohol add 100 mL to mortar and transfer to
flask, rinsing mortar with several more portions. Add remainder of
of flask. Repeat shaking several times during day. Next morning
filter solution into clean, dry, glass-stoppered bottle.
B. Determination
Accurately weigh ca 5 g filtered oil into 250–300 mL Erlenmeyer.
Pipet 50 mL alcoholic KOH solution into flask, draining pipet
definite time. Connect flask with air condenser and boil until fat is
completely saponified (ca 30 min). Cool, and titrate with 0.5M HCl,
936.15 (see A.1.06), us ing phenolphthalein. Con duct blank
determination along with that on test portion, using same pipet for
measuring KOH solution and draining same time.
Calculate saponification number
(mg KOH required to saponify 1 g fat) = 28.05 (B – S)/g oil
where B = mL 0.5M HCl required by blank and S = mL 0.5M HCl
required for test portion.
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