The American Oil Chemists' Society is an international professional organization based in Urbana, IllinoisUSA dedicated to providing the support network for those involved with the science and technology related to fats, oils, surfactants, and other related materials. Founded in 1909, AOCS has approximately 4,000 members in 90 countries who are active in a total of twelve divisions and six sections, of which only one of the sections is within the United States.
Mission
According to the official AOCS site, "the mission of AOCS is to provide high standards of quality among those with a professional interest in the science and technology of fats, oils, surfactants, and related materials and is continually fulfilled by AOCS Technical Services. Its esteemed products and services help professionals maintain excellence in their industry".
History
The AOCS was started in May 1909 under the name Society of Cotton Products Analysts as a group that promoted recommended methods for chemical processes focused on the cottonseed industry. 1920, the name was changed to American Oil Chemists' Society. In 1976, AOCS hosted the first World Conference on Oilseed and Vegetable Oils Processing Technologies in Amsterdam, presided over by the AOCS president Frank White.
Technical (Laboratory) Services
AOCS Technical has been facilitating global trade and laboratory integrity through its fine products, programs, and services since 1909. Official Methods and Recommended Practices of the AOCS,6th Edition AOCS methods are used in hundreds of laboratories on all six continents. The 6th Edition contains more than 400 fats, oils and lipid related methods critical for processing and trading. Laboratory Proficiency Program The AOCS LPP is the world's most extensive and respected collaborative proficiency testing program for oil- and fat- related commodities, oilseeds, oilseed meals, and edible fats. Established in 1915, more than 500 chemists in over 40 countries participate, creating a who's wholist of the finest companies in the fats and oils world.
Publications
AOCS has published over 100 books, three technical journals related to edible oil chemistry: Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society , Lipids, Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, and the news magazine, International News on Fats, Oils, and Related Materials. The JAOCS is currently published monthly and is in its 86th volume as of 2009. In addition to its own distribution channels, AOCS also partners with online libraries like CRC/Taylor & Francis and Springer to make content available electronically.
Journals
''Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society''
The JAOCS has been published since 1947 and is distributed monthly as the main journal of AOCS. Its contents include technical reports on processes, theoretical and practical research, fats and oils distribution, and more.
Lipids is another monthly publication of the AOCS and has been in existence since 1966.
Books
AOCS publishes a number of books each year, over 50 of which are available from their online store. Available titles include "Biobased Surfactants and Detergents," "Biocatalysis and Bioenergy," and "Focus on Obesity."
Meetings
AOCS holds the internationalAnnual Meeting every year for both members and non-members. In 2009, the 100th annual meeting was held in Orlando, Florida, USA, celebrating the centennial of the organization. In addition to the Annual Meeting, there are several other smaller events held throughout the year. These meetings cover topics ranging from edible oil refining to lipid oxidation to biodiesel technologies.
AOCS Foundation
The AOCS Foundation is a fund raising group that has similar goals to the main organization. With donations, the Foundation supports initiatives like facility improvement and expanded electronic resources.
Membership
AOCS members pay an annual association fee and receive these benefits:
Monthly subscription to the news journal Inform
AOCS Resource Directory of member listing and contact information
Discount rates for purchases of books and special publications
Committees
AOCS is made up of a collection of the following permanent committees, each representing part of what AOCS does:
At its annual meetings, AOCS hands out a total of 34 , broken down into five service, three scientific, twelve sectional/ divisional, and fourteen student.
