Determination of acidity and electrical characterization of olive oils via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Fuente: Grasas y Aceites
Olive oil is highly valued for its nutritional and antioxidant properties. International regulations establish acidity as a key quality parameter, differentiating high-quality oils from lower grades. The acidity measurement typically involves manual titration. This study explored Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) as a rapid, non-destructive alternative for determining acidity in olive oils. Emulsions were prepared using a hydro-alcoholic solution, and the standard addition method with oleic acid was employed for calibration. Electrical conductivity was derived from impedance measurements across a frequency range of 0.4 Hz to 400 KHz. Through a non-linear fit of conductivity versus oleic acid percentage, acidities of 0.30% for extra virgin olive oil and 0.19% for refined olive oil were determined. All measurements have been carried out in triplicate and both mean value and standard deviation have been calculated. Equivalent electrical circuit accurately modeled the experimental data, revealing that adsorption effects are dominant at low frequencies.