Spectrographic studies on the antimony trichloride reaction for vitamin A

Abstract

The SbCl3-absorption of oils was always lower than that of their concentrates with ordinary reagent, even after maximum absorption by oxidation with air had been obtained in the oils; this is probably due to unremoved inhibition of the reaction by the saponifiable fraction. With Br reagent the relation was constant, average = 0.90, for normal oils, and corresponded closely to the relation between the ultra-violet absorption values (av., 0.88). The blue value ratio was also constant (av., 1.63). Measurements of wavelength at maximum and E indicated a continuous movement of the band with increasing E, probably due to the change in concentration of the glycerides.