Directional Crystallization Kinetics of Coconut Oil under Temperature Gradient

Abstract

The directional crystallization kinetics of coconut oil was studied under the temperature gradient from 13℃ to 15℃. During the crystallization of coconut oil, the overall crystal growth rate Rg decreased over time, but it increased with the growth of temperature difference. While the change of crystallization yields Y first increased then decreased to constant. And the variation trend of crystallization yield with temperature difference was the same with crystal growth rate. The Avrami equation was basically fit for the analysis of coconut oil's crystallization. Some deviations also existed during the last stage of crystallization. What's more, the crystalline form and the methods of crystal growth both changed with different temperature.