Contact persons : I. Lioumbas [lioumbas@gmail.com] , A. Zamanis [agzamanis@yahoo.gr]

During this project we investigate the potential of developing a rapid test based on wicking of oil into paper for determining whether a reused frying oil is to be rejected. To achieve this goal, wicking patterns (oil penetration rate and oil front shape versus time) of both fresh and prolonged fried extra virgin olive oil are optically registered at different types of paper stripes (e.g. double-ply towel papers and single-ply chromatographic papers) and different working conditions (i.e. 20 oC and 30 oC of ambient temperature). It is shown that the type of paper affects seriously the wicking patterns. Double-ply papers present high oil penetration rates but very irregular oil front shapes whereas single-ply papers yield lower oil penetration rates but pretty flat oil fronts. This project provided a patented method for using wicking as a rapid test for rejection assessment of reused oils.

(a) Schematic layout of the experimental configuration, (b) image sequence of wicking fronts of fresh oil into Classic paper, (c) typical swelling profile (side view) of chromatographic paper during wicking.

Schematic representation of the paper surface pattern effect on wicking velocity.