Saponification Value Calculator

Your details

KOH is the AOCS/AOAC standard. NaOH is sometimes used in modified procedures. The equivalent weight changes accordingly.
Volume of HCl solution used in the blank run (no fat/oil). This accounts for the amount of base not consumed by the sample.
mL
Volume of HCl solution used to back-titrate the excess base after refluxing with your fat or oil sample. Must be less than or equal to the blank.
mL
Normality of the standardised hydrochloric acid solution used for back-titration. Equal to molarity for HCl (1:1 equivalent).
N
Mass of the fat or oil sample used. Typically 1-5 g for most AOCS procedures. Precision to at least three decimal places is recommended.
g
Saponification valueLow
133.2mg/g

mg of base required to saponify 1 g of fat or oil

Unit labelmg KOH/g
Base consumed4.75meq
Mean fatty acid equivalent weight421.1g/mol
SV categoryLow (waxes, lanolin, complex lipids)
133.2 mg/g
Very low (waxes)<60Low (complex lipids)60-150Moderate-low150-180Typical edible oils180-210High (coconut-type)210-265Very high265+

Saponification value: 133.2 mg KOH/g

  • An SV below 150 mg KOH/g is characteristic of waxes or complex lipids, which contain large ester molecules with long alcohol or fatty acid chains.
  • The mean equivalent weight of the saponifiable fraction is approximately 421 g/mol, corresponding to the average ester bond molecular weight in your sample.
  • The sample consumed 38.0% of the base added in the blank, indicating the fraction of alkali used by the saponifiable material.

Next stepIf you expect a common vegetable oil but get a wax-like SV, check for adulteration with mineral oil or wax esters, which have very high unsaponifiable content.

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