What does TOTOX value reveals all about our oils and fats?
What is TOTOX value?
TOTOX refers to the Total Oxidation Value. This value better describes the total oxidative load to which a fat or oil has been exposed. TOTOX value can be calculated as the sum of twice the peroxide value and the anisidine value.
The Totox value is calculated by the formula AV + 2PV to indicate an oil’s overall oxidation state. The lower the Totox value, the better the quality of oil.
Determining TOTOX values helps in evaluating the rancidity and quality of oils, especially discarded fats and used as a quality control parameter.
What does anisidine value and peroxide value indicates?
The anisidine value measures the secondary oxidation compounds. Technically, Anisidine value is the number of secondary products of lipids compounds oxidation which are formed due to breakdown of peroxides and hydroperoxides. Lower the anisidine value, better the quality of oils.
Peroxide value indicates that the oil has been damaged by free radicals leading to the formation of aldehydes and ketones which causes the oil to smell rancid and musty. Determining peroxide value is a good way to measure the amount of primary oxidation products in fresh oils
These rancidity reactions can be accelerated by exposure of fats or oils to heat, light and air. However, highly rancid oils can have a reduced PV therefore the anisidine value (AV) and a Totox value are used to show the whole oxidation story of lipids.
Other quality tests for fats or oils include -
- Acid value
- Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value
- Iodine value
