Simple operation
METTLER TOLEDO’s automated Easy Pro titrator, from the entry-level EasyPlus line, can analyze all three parameters in a single compact instrument. Although measurements of peroxide and acid (both Acid Value and Free Fatty Acid determination) require two different titration chemistries – acid / base and redox, respectively – the built-in iTitrate™ software facilitates the quick swap of burettes and sensors; no specialized training is required to undertake the different applications.
A network of testing stations in one province of China recently acquired 50 Easy Pro instruments following a head-to-head comparison with autotitrators from domestic manufacturers. Easy Pro was not only capable of performing all three edible oil assays, but was simplest to install and operate, requiring relatively little training for lab technicians unfamiliar with automated titration. The grain testing stations were able to implement the solution uniformly with a single training program for the whole province, helping them to comply more quickly and effectively with the newly defined National Food Safety Standards framework.
A major focus and investment area for developing countries is reducing dependence on imported wheat, rice and corn. While small countries’ agricultural production may be insufficient for domestic needs, giants, by contrast, may struggle with quality concerns as well as meeting nutritive requirements from the initial harvest.
China recently launched a multiyear campaign to speed agricultural mechanization and upgrade grain quality. The National Food Safety Standards were overhauled in 2015-16 to include new guidelines for edible oil testing. Among the parameters assessed are Acid Value, Free Fatty Acids and Peroxide Value; results can indicate lower quality due to oil impurities, poor refining or age-related instances of oxidation or rancidification. METTLER TOLEDO’s EasyPlus™ titrators provide a three-in-one solution to meet China's rigorous new testing requirements for domestically produced grain and edible oils.
Repeatable results
The revised GB 5009.227 and 5009.229 National Food Safety Standards promise to greatly improve the speed and consistency of edible oil testing by specifying automatic potentiometric titration methods to determine Acid Value and Peroxide Value.
While the standards still allow classic operator-dependent manual titrations, the techniques remain slow, error-prone and limited in scope due to the difficulties inherent in visually judging the endpoint of a measurement by color change. Automated titration with electrochemical sensors achieves more accurate and reproducible results across the widest specified range of foods – vegetable and animal oils, oilseeds, flours and nuts, pastries, biscuits, fried noodles and more.
