Triolein (glyceryl trioleate) is a symmetrical triglyceride derived from glycerol and three units of the unsaturated fatty acid oleic acid. Most triglycerides are unsymmetrical, being derived from mixtures of fatty acids. Triolein represents 4–30% of olive oil.[1]

Triolein is also known as glyceryl trioleate and is one of the two components of Lorenzo's oil.[2]

The oxidation of triolein is according to the formula:

C
57H
104O
6 + 80 O
2 → 57 CO
2 + 52 H
2O

This gives a respiratory quotient of 57/80 or 0.7125. The heat of combustion is 8,389 kcal (35,100 kJ) per mole or 9.474 kcal (39.64 kJ) per gram. Per mole of oxygen it is 104.9 kcal (439 kJ).

References

  1. ^ Alfred Thomas (2002). "Fats and Fatty Oils". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a10_173. ISBN 3-527-30673-0.
  2. ^ Lerner, Barron H (2009). "Complicated lessons: Lorenzo Odone and medical miracles". The Lancet. 373 (9667): 888–889. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60534-1. ISSN 0140-6736. PMID 19291841. S2CID 38174463.