Potential of neutron powder diffraction for the study of solid triacylglycerols

We present a high-resolution neutron powder diffraction study of the triclinic beta form of tripalmitin as well as in situ crystallisation experiments, monitored with neutron diffraction, conducted over three different cooling rates. We use the results from the high-resolution study to anticipate if neutron diffraction could be beneficial in differentiating the polymorphism in triacylglycerol systems. We extend on this to present analysis of a diffraction pattern of cocoa butter, to establish the potential for neutron diffraction to study the (hydrogenous) forms of triacylglycerols used in food production.