Overview
ISO 19219:2002 specifies a laboratory method for the determination of visible foots (visible sediment) in crude animal and vegetable fats and oils. The method quantifies insoluble matter that separates by gravity from a homogenized crude fat or oil sample during a controlled 96-hour storage period at a specified temperature. It is intended for routine quality control, acceptance testing and verification of crude oils and fats.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope: Determination of visible matter separable by gravity in crude fats and oils.
- Sample preparation: Warm to fully liquid, mix to redisperse sediment (see ISO 661 for sample prep).
- Test temperature: Hold samples for 96 h at 20 °C or at 10 °C above the product’s melting point, whichever is higher.
- Apparatus: Graduated sediment tubes - pear-shaped (for sediments ≤ 1.5 ml/100 ml) or cone-shaped (for > 1.5 ml/100 ml).
- Procedure: Fill tube to the 100 ml mark as quickly as possible with homogenous fat/oil at test temperature. Leave undisturbed for 96 h and read sediment volume to nearest 0.1 ml.
- Replicates: Perform determinations in duplicate and report the mean.
- Expression of results and rounding: Report visible foots as percentage by volume at test temperature; rounding rules depend on sediment level (e.g., nearest 0.1 ml/100 ml for results < 1 ml/100 ml).
- Precision: Repeatability and reproducibility limits are provided (e.g., repeatability limit r ≈ 0.1 ml/100 ml for low levels; reproducibility R up to 5.0 ml/100 ml for higher levels). Interlaboratory precision data are summarized in Annex A.
- Reporting requirements: Include sample identification, sampling method (if known), test method reference, any non‑standard operating details or incidents, and final result.
Applications and users
Who uses ISO 19219:
- Quality control and analytical laboratories in edible oil, animal fat and oleochemical industries
- Producers and processors of crude fats and oils for refining acceptance testing
- Procurement/inspection teams verifying incoming crude oil shipments
- Regulatory and standards bodies monitoring product quality
Practical applications:
- Assessing storage stability and sediment content of crude oils before refining
- Contractual acceptance testing between suppliers and buyers
- Routine production QC to detect batch contamination or excessive insoluble matter
Related standards
- ISO 661 - Preparation of test sample (referenced)
- ISO 5555 - Recommended sampling methods for fats and oils
- ISO 15301 - Centrifuge method for sediment (noted as a correlated, faster alternative for sediments > 0.5 ml/100 ml)
- ISO 5725 series - Accuracy (trueness and precision) of measurement methods
Keywords: ISO 19219, visible foots, crude fats and oils, sediment determination, fats and oils testing, sediment tube, ISO 15301, quality control.