Effect of deodorization conditions on fatty acid profile, oxidation products, and lipid-derived free radicals of soybean oil

Oxidative stability is a key quality characteristic of edible oils, and the oil's antioxidant capacity decreases during the deodorization stage. This study explores the changes in radical formation, molecular structure, oxidative characteristics, fatty acids, and main bioactive compounds in soybean oil during deodorization. The lag phase decreased, whereas the total amount of spins of free radicals increased as the deodorization time increased from 90 to 150min. The total amount of spins and percentage of alkyl radicals varied dramatically under different times and temperatures (220 ∼ 260 ℃). Results showed that identifying and quantifying the formed radicals can provide useful information for monitoring and controlling oil oxidation in vegetable oil refining systems. Therefore, to control early oxidation events, maximize refined oil product yield, and reduce energy consumption in the refining plant, the priority should be to minimize temperature during the oil refining process and then shorten the deodorization time.