In situ observation of transformation pathways of polymorphic forms of 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl glycerol (POP) examined with synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction and DSC?

CrystEngComm Pub Date: 2012-10-31 DOI: 10.1039/C2CE26522B

Abstract

POP (1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl glycerol), a major triacylglycerol component of vegetable and animal fats found in chocolate, fat spread, and other edible fats, crystallizes in seven polymorphic forms: α, γ, δ, β′2, β′1, β2, and β1. The crystallization and transformation pathways of the polymorphs of POP are influenced by many factors. In the present work, we studied the influence of the rates of cooling and heating on the polymorphic crystallization and transformation of POP. The rate of cooling (heating) was changed from 15 to 2, 1, and 0.5 °C min?1 (15 to 2, 1, 0.5, and 0.1 °C min?1). The crystallization and transformation processes were examined with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (SR-XRD). The results indicated that more stable forms were formed in a higher quantity when POP was slowly cooled and heated, whereas less stable forms occurred at higher rates of cooling and heating. Specifically, less stable α and γ forms were directly obtained at cooling rates of 15 to 0.5 °C min?1. The more stable forms of β′ or β did not occur even at a rate of cooling of 0.5 °C min?1, whereas α or γ transformed to β′ or β at heating rates of 0.5 and 0.1 °C min?1. The polymorphic transformations occurred either in solid-state or melt-mediation and were largely influenced by the heating rates. We discuss the present results by considering the differences in activation free energies for the transformations from α or γ to more stable forms, which may determine the heating-rate-dependent transformation pathways.

Graphical abstract: In situ observation of transformation pathways of polymorphic forms of 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl glycerol (POP) examined with synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction and DSC
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