Saponifikationsværdi

Saponifikationsværdi, also known as saponification value, is a measure used in chemistry, particularly in the context of fats and oils. It is defined as the mass of potassium hydroxide (KOH) in milligrams that is required to saponify one gram of fat or oil. Saponification is the hydrolysis of an ester into an alcohol and a carboxylate salt, and in the case of fats and oils, which are triglycerides, this process yields glycerol and fatty acid salts (soaps).

The saponification value is a quantitative indicator of the average molecular weight of the fatty acids present in a fat or oil. Fats and oils with a lower saponification value generally contain a higher proportion of long-chain fatty acids, which have larger molecular weights. Conversely, fats and oils with a higher saponification value tend to have a greater proportion of short-chain fatty acids, which have lower molecular weights.

This value is determined experimentally by titrating a known amount of fat or oil with a standardized solution of potassium hydroxide. The amount of KOH consumed during the saponification reaction is then used to calculate the saponification value. The unit of measurement for saponification value is milligrams of KOH per gram of fat or oil (mg KOH/g). It is an important parameter for characterizing different types of fats and oils and for quality control in industries such as soap making, food production, and cosmetics.