Saponification Value (SV)

• Definition of Saponification Value (SV):

  • The saponification value is the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide (KOH) required to saponify 1 gram of fat or oil.

• Significance of Saponification Value (SV):

  • Indicates the average molecular weight (or chain length) of the fatty acids in the fat or oil.
  • Higher saponification values suggest the presence of short-chain fatty acids, whereas lower values indicate longer-chain fatty acids.
  • Used to differentiate between different types of fats and oils.

• Principle:

  • The fat or oil is boiled with a known excess of alcoholic KOH, which saponifies the fat.
  • The remaining KOH is then titrated with a standard acid solution.
  • The saponification value is calculated from the difference between the amount of KOH added and the amount of KOH remaining after the reaction.

• Equation:

  • $\text{Ester Value (EV)} = \text{Saponification Value (SV)} – \text{Acid Value (AV)}$

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