Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2013
The effect of solid emulsifiers, added at the level of 10%, on the lattice parameters of tristearin and trilaurin, has been studied by powder X-ray diffraction method. The presence of sorbitan monostearate and glycerol-l-stearate affects slightly the lattice constant a in tristearin; on the other hand, although sorbitan monostearate causes an increase in a of trilaurin, glycerol-l-stearate does not. The presence of sorbitan monolaurate and glycerol-l-laurate affect a of trilaurin similarly to the long chain emulsifiers.
A correlation between the effect on a and the increase in melting point has been found.
The presence of the emulsifier does not alter drastically the lattice dimensions of the fat. The slight dissimilarity in crystal structure between tristearin and trilaurin is confirmed by the diverse effects of the emulsifiers on the internal structure of the fat.