Rapeseed oil as biodiesel resource and adulteration agent for expensive edible oils

摘要

Rapeseed (Brassica napus), also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rapaseed and canola, has bright yellow flowers and is grown for the production of animal feed, vegetable oil for human consumption, and biodiesel. This oil was originally chosen for transesterification experiments because of its low price compared to others readily available vegetable oils. Due to the high content of oleic acid and low levels of both saturated and polyunsaturated acids, the oil is the ideal raw material for combustion, due to its characteristics (oxidative stability and cold temperature behavior). It can be considered the most frequently used adulteration agent for a lot of expensive edible oils, like extra virgin olive oil. Brassicasterol is mainly present only in rapeseed oil. It is absent or present only in trace amounts in other oils.