Determination of acylglycerols in vegetable oil methyl esters by on-line normal phase LC-GC

Monitoring lipase-catalyzed methanolysis of sunflower oil by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography: Elucidation of the mechanisms of lipases

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with UV detection at 210 nm was used to monitor the formation of the major compounds during the lipase-catalyzed transesterification reaction of sunflower oil with methanol. Individual triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols as well as fatty acids and their corresponding methyl esters were separated using acetonitrile/acetone as a mobile phase and a combined linear gradient-isocratic-step gradient-isocratic elution procedure. Another relatively short method consisting of a linear gradient elution followed by an isocratic elution gave similar results, yet with lower resolution. HPLC/mass spectrometry with an ion trap analyzer and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source was used for the identification of the individual compounds. Individual calibration curves obtained with UV detection at 210 nm were found to be of use for quantitative analyses of double-bond containing methyl esters and acylglycerols. The use of the RP-HPLC methods in the elucidation of the mechanisms of three immobilized lipases, namely Lipozyme TL IM, Lipozyme RM IM and Novozym 435, in biodiesel production was described.

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography x gas chromatography: evaluation of the applicability for the analysis of edible oils and fats

Edible fats and oils are complex mixtures containing a wide range of (classes of) compounds. The most important group of compounds are the triglycerides (triacylglycerides, TAGs). Because of the large number of possible fatty acid combinations, an enormous number of TAGs is possible. In the present feasibility study, the applicability of different modes of comprehensive two-dimensional LCXGC for detailed oil and fat analysis is evaluated. Comprehensive LCXGC was found to be an extremely powerful analytical method for the analysis of complex TAG samples. Using the new comprehensive set-ups, TAGs can be separated according to two independent parameters: carbon number vs. number of double bonds, or fatty acid composition vs. number of double bonds. The information content of comprehensive separations by far exceeds that of the current generation of analytical methods. The quantitative results of the separations show a good agreement with data obtained from standard analytical methods. The comprehensive methods studied can also be used for fingerprinting of oil samples, as well as for the analysis of target compounds or compound groups. Highly detailed separations of olive oil samples were obtained. Zooming in on one region of the chromatogram allowed reliable analysis of wax esters without interferences of sterol esters.

On-line coupled liquid chromatography-gas chromatography

On-line coupled liquid chromatography-gas chromatography (LC-GC) is a powerful technique that combines the best features of LC and GC and is ideal for the analysis of complex samples. This review describes the unique features of on-line coupled LC-GC. The different interfaces and evaporation techniques are presented, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Guidelines are given for selecting a suitable LC-GC technique and representative applications are noted.

Analytical monitoring of the production of biodiesel by high-performance liquid chromatography with various detection methods

Gradient elution reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used for the determination of compounds occurring during the production of biodiesel from rapeseed oil. Individual triacylglycerols (TGs), diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols and methyl esters of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids and free fatty acids were separated in 25 min using a combined linear gradient with aqueous-organic and non-aqueous mobile phase steps: 70% acetonitrile+30% water in 0 min, 100% acetonitrile in 10 min, 50% acetonitrile+50% 2-propanol-hexane (5:4, v/v) in 20 min and 5 min final hold-up. Another method with a non-aqueous linear mobile phase gradient [from 100% methanol to 50% methanol+50% 2-propanol-hexane (5:4, v/v) in 15 min] was used for fast monitoring of conversion of rapeseed oil triacylglycerols to fatty acid methyl esters and for quantitation of residual TGs in the final biodiesel product. Sensitivity and linearity of various detection modes (UV detection at 205 nm, evaporative light scattering detection and mass spectrometric detection) were compared. The individual sample compounds were identified using coupled HPLC-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry in the positive-ion mode.