FORMATION OF CARBONYL COMPOUNDS FROM P-CAROTENE DURING PALM OIL DEODORIZATION

Decomposition products of β-carotene formed during a simulated commercial deodorization of palm oil were separated from unsaponifiable portion into six fractions by liquid chromatography. Fraction two containing slightly polar substances was further separated using thin-layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. In this fraction, β-13-apo-carotenone, β-15-apo-caro-tenal, and β-14′-apo-carotenal were identified by infrared spectrometry and mass spectroscopy.