ABSTRACT
Although advanced instrumentation such as gas chromatography (GC) and highperformance liquid chromatography are in widespread use in the study of lipid chemistry, the cost and complexity of these techniques are beyond the grasp of many producers and processors. Emphasis on maintaining oil quality has opened the door for more rapid and accessible analytical techniques. Vibrational spectroscopy, especially in combination with pattern recognition techniques, offers opportunities for the rapid determination of oil degradation products by analysts who have limited experience using these techniques. These analytical tools allow precise measurement of a few microliters of an edible oil without requiring any sample preparation.
