Modification of the characteristics of palm oil
(PO), sunflower oil, and palm kernel olein (PKOo) according to
conventional three-component mixture designs was undertaken
by a combination of blending and chemical interesterification
(CIE) techniques. TAG composition and solid fat content (SFC)
profile of the starting blends were analyzed and compared with
those of the interesterified blends. Upon CIE, extensive rearrangement
of FA among TAG was evident. Concentrations of
several TAG were increased, some were decreased, and several
new TAG were formed. The resulting changes in TAG profile
were reflected in the SFC of the blends. The SFC values of the
chemically interesterified blends, except binary blends of
PO/PKOo, revealed that they were softer than their respective
starting blends. SFC data also indicated that eutectic interaction
occurred between PO and PKOo in the starting blends and that
this interaction was diminished after CIE.