New Method Based on Zone Melting for Determining Wax Content in Sunflower Oils

In this study, we developed a new method based on zone melting (ZM) for wax determination in sunflower oils. The system point moving, oil composition, and crystallization were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and microscopy, respectively. The signal of the light sensor versus wax content was confirmed and validated by traditional turbidimetric method. Results showed that ZM could concentrate wax in oil and form wax crystals. These crystals grew at low temperature within 30 min, and the laser light scattered by the crystals was detected through a sensor. The calibration of 0–200 mg/kg was established. The relative standard deviation and percentage recovery of the proposed method were 3.87% and 106.01%, respectively. The proposed method showed good accuracy and precision. Moreover, this novel method is environmentally friendly, making it suitable for use in quality control, analytical laboratories, and assessment of sunflower oils.