The saponification number indicates how much potassium hydroxide is needed to saponify 1g fat. This information can be used to calculate how many acids (esters and free acids) are contained in a fat or oil. The greater the number of saponification, the more short- and medium-chain fatty acids the fat contains.

Why is saponification value important?

Saponification is important to the industrial user for it helps to know the amount of free fatty acid that is present in a food material. ... The quantity of free fatty acid can be distinguished by determining the quantity of alkali that must be added to the fat or oil to make it neutral.

What is the principle of saponification value?

Principle: Saponification value is defined as the number of milligrams of KOH required to completely hydrolyse (saponify) one gram of the oil/fat. In practice a known amount of the oil or fat is refluxed with excess amount of standard alcoholic potash solution and the unused alkali is titrated against a standard acid.