The Ternary Solid State Phase Behavior of Triclinic POP, POS, and SOS and Its Relationship to CB and CBE Properties

The ternary phase behavior between 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol (POP), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-3-stearoyl-glycerol (POS), and 1,3-distearoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol (SOS) in their triclinic crystal polymorphic forms was determined. The phase behavior was studied for samples crystallized from acetone and from the melt in the beta(2) polymorphic form. The melting point, enthalpy of fusion, crystal structure, and solid fat content (SFC) were determined for different proportions of POP:POS:SOS and compared to cocoa butter (CB) and three enzymatically synthesized cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs). A dramatic reduction in the melting point of ternary mixtures was observed with increasing POP content. The eutectic behavior between POP:POS and POP:SOS caused melting drop with increasing POP content. A eutectic region for POP:POS was also identified at 50:50:0 (w/w/w) POP:POS: SOS, while a novel specific composition of higher melting point was identified at 40:40:20 (w/w/w) POP:POS:SOS. The polymorphism of the CBEs and CB seems to be dictated by the polymorphism of the majority TAG molecular species present in the material.