Title: Determination of Acidity Number in Fatty Acid

Objective: To determine the acidity number in fatty acid.

Introduction:
A fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long aliphatic tail, which is either saturated or
unsaturated. It is also a large group of monobasic acids that found in animal and vegetable
Cn H 2 n+1 COOH
fats and oils. Fatty acids have the general formula
. Fatty acids are usually
derived from triglycerides or phospholipids. It is a important source of fuel because when
metabolized, it yield large quantities of ATP.
In chemistry, acid number is the mass of potassium hydroxide ( KOH ) in milligrams
that is required to neutralize one gram of chemical substance. The acid number is a measure
of the amount of carboxylic acid groups in a chemical compound, such as fatty acid or in a
mixture of compound. As fats rancidify, triglycerides are converted into fatty acids and
glycerol, causing an increase in acid number. Therefore, the smaller the acid value, the higher
the quantity of oil.
Reagents:
1. Standard potassium or sodium hydroxide, 0.02N for refined oils
2. Phenolphthalein indicator solution
3. Isopropanol
Apparatus:
1. Burette, 25mL with graduation in 0.05mL divisions
2. Erlenmeyer flask, 250mL
3. Measuring cylinder, 50mL and 100mL
4. Beaker, 50mL and 100mL
5. Hot plate with temperature control
6. Analytical balance
7. Funnel
8. Thermometer
9. Retort stand
10. Dropper
Procedure:
1. The oil sample A was weighed for 2.0 g in an Erlenmeyer flask.
2. 50ml of the neutralised solvent (isopropanol) was added into the sample .
3. The flask was heated and regulated on the hot plate to temperature of 40C.
4. A few drops of Phenolphthalein were then added into the flask.
5. The Erlenmeyer flask was titrated with sodium hydroxide until the colour of solution
changed to a first permanent pink that stayed for 10 seconds.
6. The volume used for titration were recorded down for observation.
7. Step 1 to 6 were repeated by changing the oil sample to B and C.

Results:
Type of oil
sample
A
B
C

Weight of oil
sample(g)
2
2
2

Calculation:
FFA % as palmitic acid =

25.6 x N x V
W

Where
N= normality of NaOH solution
V= volume of NaOH solution used in mL
W= weight of sample

For oil sample A:

FFA % as palmitic acid =

25.6 x 0.02 x 2.40

2

= 0.6144%

For oil sample B:

FFA % as palmitic acid =

25.6 x 0.02 x 6.65

2

= 1.7024%

For oil sample C:

FFA % as palmitic acid =

25.6 x 0.02 x 1.05

2

1
2.40
6.60
1.10

Volume of NaOH used (mL)

2
Average
2.40
2.40
6.70
6.65
1.00
1.05

= 0.2688%

Discussion
In determination of acidity number in fatty acid, a quantity of potassium hydroxide act
as a base is required to neutralize the acidic constituents in 1g of sample. Acidity number is
used to describe the amount of acid present in an oil (fatty acid). The acidic value is also the
mass of sodium hydroxide needed to neutralize one gram of chemical substance, in this case
which is the fatty acid.
In the beginning of the experiment, the oil samples is added with isopropanol as a
solvent. It helps in simplifying the titration without the need of using violent shaking for the
reaction to be happened.
During the titration, an indicator is added into the solution which is phenolphthalein.
Phenolphthalein has two form in different condition, when it is in acidic form, it is colourless,
yet it turn to pinkish white when H+ ion is removed and the solution is turning base form.
Therefore, phenolphthalein act as the indicator for this experiment. Sodium hydroxide is
being titrated slowly into the solution until the indicator changed its colour. The NaOH
solution has the reaction of:
H3O+(aq) + OH(aq) H2O(l)
If the H3O+ is still remaining in the solution of Erlenmeyer flask, the phenolphthalein
will remain colourless, when there is enough NaOH solution titrated into the solution,
reaction is complete, colour changed. The volume of NaOH used to titrate can help us to
calculate the acidity of fatty acid.
The FFA we obtain from our calculation are the result of broken down oil. FFA % is
used to describe the free fatty acid contents of oil, while acidity number only describe the
FFA content of completed biodiesel. FFA % is calculated by the weight to weight ratio of FFA
found in the content with the formula of FFA% = 25.6 x N x V / w. To calculate this value,
we need the volume of NaOH solution used in ml, normality of NaOH and the weight of the
sample. All of this result can be obtained in our table. Hence, we can calculate the FFA
percentage of all 3 sample and conclude with a trend.

In this experiment, oil sample C has the lowest FFA% as palmitic acid which is only
0.2688%. Thus, it has greater stability in triglycerides form. Meanwhile, for oil sample B, it
has the greatest FFA% as palmitic acid which is 1.7024%. Therefore, its triglycerides are
more readily to convert into fatty acid and glycerol.
During the experiment, there are a few matters that has to be concerned of to get the
best result. First of all, when weighing the oil sample, the mass of flask must be minus out
from the overall mass. Next, the accuracy of it must not more or less than 0.05 g to ensure
best result. Moreover, during titration, the sodium hydroxide solution must be added drop by
drop to ensure precise result for titration. If the sample in the flask changed it's colour to
pink,e turn off the burette so that no excess of sodium hydroxide is leaked out of the burette.
Furthermore, the colour of sample must stay at least for 10 seconds to ensure that the titration
is complete. Last but not least, after the experiment, all the flasks must be cleaned with soap
as it is oily.
Conclusion:
Oil sample C has the lowest FFA% as palmitic acid which is only 0.2688%. Therefore, it has
greater resistance towards rancidification.