May 04, 2019

Manzano, Maycelle Mendoza, Chelsea Faye V.

Marcos, Aira Jherese Mendoza, Ivie Lou P.
Marpa, Lianice Kaye M. Molina, Heneshy T.
Meegan, Angela Marie I. Milan, Serg Nigel

SAPONIFICATION VALUE DETERMINATION

A. DEFINITION
Saponification Value Determination is a process by which triglycerides are reacted with sodium or
potassium hydroxide (lye) to produce glycerol and a fatty acid salt, called “soap”.

B. DISCUSSION
The magnitude of saponification value is important to the industrial user to know the amount of free fatty
acid present, since this determines in large measure the refining loss. The amount of free fatty acid is estimated
by determining the quantity of alkali that must be added to the fat to render it neutral.Saponification value is
also an indication of the size or nature of fatty acid chains esterified to glycerol and gives a measure of the
average length of the fatty acid chain that makes up a fat. In combination with acid values, saponification
values are useful in providing information as to the quantity, type of glycerides and mean weight of the acids
in a given sample of oil.

Saponification is only of interest if the oil is for industrial purposes, as it has no nutritional significance. But due
to the fact that each fat has within the limits of biological variation, a constant fatty acid composition,
determination of the saponification value is a reasonable means of characterizing the fat. For instance the
results show a high saponification value recorded with the oil it will now indicates that the oil can be used
industrially for making soap.This is done by warming a known amount of the fat with strong aqueous caustic
soda solution, which converts the free fatty acid into soap. This soap is then removed and the amount of fat
remaining is then determined. The loss is estimated by subtracting this amount from the amount of fat originally
taken for the test.

Calculation of saponification value is necessary to establish the number of milligrams of potassium

hydroxide that is required to neutralize the fatty acids resulting from the complete hydrolysis of 1g of fat. It gives
information concerning the character of the fatty acids of the fat- the longer the carbon chain, the less acid is
liberated per gram of fat hydrolyzed. It is also considered as a measure of the average molecular weight (or
chain length) of all fatty acids or oils present wherein the higher the molecular weight of the fat, the smaller is
its saponification value. For example, the long chain fatty acids found in fats have low saponification value
because they have a relatively fewer number of carboxylic functional groups per unit mass of the fat and
therefore high molecular weight.

In addition, Saponification Value also indicates the length of carbon chain of the acid present in that
particular oil or fat, the higher the saponification value, the greater is the percentage of the short chain acids
present in the glycerides of the oil or fats.
Lakshamana, S. on one of his academic journal entitled, Cleaning Validation and Its Regulatory
Aspects in the Pharmaceutical Industry stated that the Saponification process specifically involves the chemical
degradation of lipids, which are not freely soluble in aqueous solutions. Heat-treated lipid residues are more
difficult to remove than nonheat-treated residues due to polymerization. Therefore, Saponification plays a
critical role in cleaning lipids which are present in process areas involving cell growth and cell processing, such
as bacterial fermentation and cell disruption process.

SIGNIFICANCE
The magnitude of saponification value is important to the industrial user to know the amount of free fatty
acid present, since this determines in large measure the refining loss. The amount of free fatty acid is estimated
by determining the quantity of alkali that must be added to the fat to render it neutral. This is done by warming
a known amount of the fat with strong aqueous caustic soda solution, which converts the free fatty acid into
soap. This soap is then removed and the amount of fat remaining is then determined. The loss is estimated by
subtracting this amount from the amount of fat originally taken for the test.

The saponification value is the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide required to neutralize the fatty
acids resulting from the complete hydrolysis of 1g of fat. It gives information concerning the character of the
fatty acids of the fat- the longer the carbon chain, the less acid is liberated per gram of fat hydrolyzed. It is also
considered as a measure of the average molecular weight (or chain length) of all fatty acids or oils present
wherein the higher the molecular weight of the fat, the smaller is its saponification value. For example, the long
chain fatty acids found in fats have low saponification value because they have a relatively fewer number of
carboxylic functional groups per unit mass of the fat and therefore high molecular weight.
 In addition, Saponification Value also indicates the length of carbon chain of the acid present in that
particular oil or fat, the higher the saponification value, the greater is the percentage of the short chain acids
present in the glycerides of the oil or fats.
Lakshamana, S. on one of his academic journal entitled, Cleaning Validation and Its Regulatory Aspects in
the Pharmaceutical Industry stated that the Saponification process specifically involves the chemical
degradation of lipids, which are not freely soluble in aqueous solutions. Heat-treated lipid residues are more
difficult to remove than nonheat-treated residues due to polymerization. Therefore, Saponification plays a
critical role in cleaning lipids which are present in process areas involving cell growth and cell processing, such
as bacterial fermentation and cell disruption process.

SAPONIFICATION VALUE LIMITS OF FATTY SUBSTANCES

Substances Saponification Value

USP
Caruba Wax 80-95
Castor oil 176-182
Cocoa Butter 188-195
Corn oil 187-193
Cottonseed oil 190-198
Hydrogenated vegetable oil 188-198
Olive oil 190-195
Peanut oil 185-195
Polyoxyl 40
Stearate 25-35
Sesame oil 188-195
Storax 160-200
Tolu Balsam 154-220
N.F.
Almond oil 190-200
Cod-liver 180-192
Glyceryl morostearate 164-170
Persic oil 185-195
Synthetic soeraceti 185-195

C. PROCEDURE

To determine the Saponification Value of Cottonseed

1. Place from 1.5 to 2 g of the sample, in a flask off from 200 to 250 ml of capacity.
2. Add to it 25 ml of alcoholic 0.5 n potassium hydroxide.
3. Insert into the neck of the flask, by means of a perforated slopper, an air condenser consisting of a
glass tube from 70 to 80 cm in length and from 5 to 8 ml in diameters.
4. Heat the flask on a water bath for 30 minutes, frequently rotating contents.
5. Add 1 ml of phenolphthalein T.S. and titrate the excess of potassium hydroxide with 0.5 N
hydrochloric acid.
6. Perform a blank determination at the same time, using exactly the same amount of alcoholic 0.5
N KOH. the difference in the number of ml of 0.5 n hydrochloric acid.
7. Consumed in the actual test and the blank, multiplied by 25.05 and divided by the weight of the
sample taken, gives the saponification value.

D. SAMPLE VIDEO OF PRESENTATION

E. COMPUTATION

The saponification value(S.V) ,is given by the formula:

(56 )𝑁×(𝑉𝑜−𝑉1 )
S.V.=
𝑚
Where:
• 𝑉0 = volume of HCl used in blank titration cm³
• 𝑉1 = volume of HCl used in original titration cm³
• N=Normality of HCl
• m= mass of oil in g

F. THREE SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1. A 3700 g of sample of castor oil saponified with 25 ml of 0.4 N KOH required 12 ml of 0.5100 N HCl to titrate the
excess KOH. In the blank determination ,23 ml of 0.5100 N HCl was required to bring about the end point.
Calculate the saponification value of the sample. Does the value correspond to the USP requirement?
Given:
3700 g of castor oil
25 ml of 0.4 N KOH
Blank: 23 ml of 0.5100 N HCl
Sample: 12 ml of 0.5100 N HCl
Unknown: Saponification Value
Solution:
(56)𝑁 𝑥( 𝑉𝑜−𝑉1)
S.V.=
𝑚
(56 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙)(𝑜.5100 𝑁)(23.00𝑚𝑙−12𝑚𝑙)
=
1.3700 𝑔
=229.314 mg KOH / g of sample
*OFC Requirement: 176-182,hence,it not passed.

2. Find the saponication value of cottonseed oil if a 1.532 g same, refluxed with 25 ml of about 0.5 N alcoholic
KOH, required 15.70 ml of 0.5100 N HCl for the residual titration. The blank was run using the same volume of
0.5N alcoholic KOH and required 26 ml of 0.5100 N hcl to bring about the end point
Given:
1.532 g sample of cottonseed oil
25 ml of 0.5 N KOH
Blank: 26 ml of 0.5100 N HCl
Sample: 15.70 ml of 0.5100 N HCl
Unknown: Saponification Value
Solution:
(56)𝑁 𝑥( 𝑉𝑜−𝑉1)
S.V.=
𝑚
(56 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙)(𝑜.5100 𝑁)(26.00𝑚𝑙−15.70𝑚𝑙)
=
1.532 𝑔
= 192.016 mg KOH / g of sample
*OFC Requirement: 190-198,hence, passed

3. A sample of corn oil weighing 1.600 g saponified with 25 ml of 0.4 N KOH required 9.0ml of 0.05 N HCl to titrate
the excess KOH. In the blank determination, 20 ml of 0.05 N HCl was required to titrate the alkali. Calculate the
saponification value of the sample. Does the value found correspond to the USP requirement.
Given:
1.600 g sample of corn oil
25 ml of 0.4 N KOH
Blank: 20 ml of 0.5 N HCl
Sample: 9 ml of 0.5 N HCl
Unknown: Saponification Value
Solution:
(56)𝑁 𝑥( 𝑉𝑜−𝑉1)
S.V.=
𝑚
(56 𝑔/𝑚𝑜𝑙)(𝑜.5 𝑁)(20.00𝑚𝑙−9 𝑚𝑙)
=
1.600 𝑔
= 192.5 mg KOH / g of sample
*OFC Requirement: 187-193,hence,correspond to the USP requirement.

G. REFERENCES
1. Estimation of Saponification Value of Fats/Oils. (2011). Retrieved from,
https://vlab.amrita.edu/?sub=3&brch=63&sim=688&cnt=1
2. Saponification Value & Its Significance. (2017, February 19). Retrieved from,
http://signoftruth.com/wp/saponification-
value/?fbclid=IwAR0GrmaWgqDhMZuJQsYd0R7c4MOn10aYtPjArIhOhj7NYTeu45Q8jYPAYMI
3. Lakshmana, S., Surinam P., et, al. (n.d). Chapter 5 - Cleaning Validation and Its Regulatory Aspects in the
Pharmaceutical Industry. Retrieved from,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323313032000054
4. AL Majidi, M, and Bader, A. (2015, September - October). Physicochemical Characteristics of Some Imported
Edible Vegetable Oils in Iraq. Retrieved from,
https://www.rjpbcs.com/pdf/2015_6(5)/[68].pdf