RESUMO
Objective: To clarify the changes of content and composition of tocopherol in rapeseed oil during the refining process. Methods: The content and composition of tocopherol was determined by HPLC. Results: The content of tocopherol in oil is: crude oil 0.1298%, degummed and neutralized oil 0.1189 %, bleached oil 0.0825%, deodorized oil 0.0686%. Compared to crude oil, the total tocopherol content decreased 47.1% after the whole refining process,and the ?-tocopherol content decreased 33.1%,66.4%,66.7% after degumming and neutralization, bleaching, deodorization, respectively. Conclusion: The content of tocopherol and ?-tocopherol decreases significantly as well as the relative proportion of ?-tocopherol in total tocopherol after refining.These changes must be taken into account during the refining technology optimization, utilization of by-products and evaluation of oxidant stability of rapeseed oil .