Oxidation of oils is a free-radical cascade of reactions leading to the formation of undesirable odors and tastes, nutrient degradation, and potentially harmful compounds. To better understand the oxidation process, the kinetic parameters were examined depending on the degree of conversion (0 ≤ α ≤ 1) in this study. This approach provides insight into the complexity of the oxidative mechanism and allows a more reliable evaluation of the oxidative stability of nettle seed oil and its behavior during thermal treatment. A non-isothermal DSC method was applied, and kinetic parameters including the activation energy (Ea), the pre-exponential factor (A), and the reaction rate constant (k) were evaluated by applying the isoconversional Ozawa–Flynn–Wall method. Based on kinetic parameters, a simulation of oil oxidation at constant temperature (22 °C) was performed and the oil induction time was estimated. This value was compared to the ones obtained by OXITEST method. The observed conversion-dependent kinetic parameters demonstrate the complex oxidation behavior of nettle seed oil and justify the application of conversion-sensitive kinetic models to accurately describe its thermal stability. The induction period obtained under accelerated oxidation conditions suggests satisfactory oxidative stability of oil and highlights its potential suitability for nutritional and functional applications.
Mitrović et al. (Tue,) studied this question.