Analysis of common fatty acid glycerides by gas chromatography

A method is described for the determination of 25 common fatty acid mono-, di-, and triglycerides and their components and mixtures by packed-column gas chromatography after isolation and derivatization. The method is applied to two commercial materials, a polypropylene resin and a hand lotion. The glycerides along with glycerol and free fatty acids are first separated from the host by refluxing with 2-propanol containing an internal standard. The extract is derivatized and the compounds are identified and measured by gas chromatography. The chromatograms show sharp peaks, unique retention times and reproducibility in the range of 2–5%. Several positional isomers of the fatty acid glycerides were tested but found not to be resolved under the conditions used. Optical isomers and cis-trans isomers of unsaturated acids were not tested.     

Analysis of sorbitan ester surfactants. Part I: High performance liquid chromatography

Sorbitan ester surfactants are very complicated mixtures. An improved and simple reversed phase high performance liquid chroma tographic (HPLC) method employing a C₁₈ column has been developed for the rapid separation of sorbitan ester surfactants and the quantitative determination of the distribution of sorbitan mono-, di-, tri-, and tetraester fractions. The sorbitan ester distribution of the six Span and Arlacel surfactants studied was calculated using relative response factors obtained from analysis of pure glycerides of fatty acids. The effects of mobile phase composition on the accuracy and reliability of the distribution values calculated for the sorbitan esters were investigated.     

On-line water removal during enzymatic triacylglycerol synthesis by means of pervaporation

Triacylglycerols can be synthesized from glycerol and fatty acids. During this equilibrium reaction water is produced, therefore a mixture of mono-, di- and triesters is obtained. One way to produce an excess of triacylglycerols is to remove the water produced during synthesis. This can be realized in an immobilized enzyme pervaporation system. The enzyme is immobilized onto the lumen side of a cellulose membrane where the organic phase is present. Air circulates at the shell side and the water activity is controlled with the use of a condenser. The lipase catalyzed esterification of decanoic acid and partial glycerides is studied in this reactor. The system is reaction limited. Only at low water activity conditions, an excess of triacylglycerols is obtained. The enzyme activity at the start of the experiments is independent of the water activity within the range studied. Stability is influenced: After 600 hours the activity is 26% of the activity at the start at a_w = 0.1 and 71% at a_w = 0.45.     

Analysis of sorbitan ester surfactants. Part II: Capillary supercritical fluid chromatography

A rapid, simple and quantitative approach to the separation and identification of sorbitan ester surfactants has been developed using capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The sorbitan ester surfactants were well separated into five groups: starting materials and mono-, di-, tri-, and tetraesters, with each group consisting of a number of peaks representing different isomers. High purity glycerides of fatty acids were employed to estimate the relative response factors of sorbitan esters, and reliable group-wise integration served for quantitation of the distribution of sorbitan fatty acid esters. A very important parameter, hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB), which describes the hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics of surfactants, could be correlated with the distribution of the sorbitan esters. A combination of solid-phase extraction (SPE) and SFC was used to separate, concentrate, and analyze Span-20 from salt-water samples. In comparison with the HPLC method, capillary SFC broadens the scope of the technique to encompass high molecular weight sorbitan polyesters while maintaining high separation efficiency.     

Applications of HPLC with evaporative light scattering detection in fat and carbohydrate chemistry

Summary The advantages of an evaporative light scattering detector in HPLC are demonstrated using the separation of α, ω-dicarboxylic and hydroxycarboxylic acids, alkyl glucosides and mono-, di- and triglycerides as examples. By using this detector reversed phase as well as normal phase gradient HPLC becomes possible for substances with no UV absorption. Presented at the 17th International Symposium on Chromatography, September 25–30, 1988, Vienna, Austria.     

Quality control of vegetable oil methyl esters used as diesel fuel substitutes: Quantitative determination of mono-, di-, and triglycerides by capillary GC

Vegetable oil methyl esters are increasingly being used as substitutes for petroleum-based diesel fuels. Because the presence of triglycerides and partial glycerides in the fuel as a result of incomplete transesterification of vegetable oils can lead to serious engine problems, continuous quality control of the product is essential. A rapid gas chromatographic method has been developed for the quantitative determination of mono-, di-, and triglycerides in vegetable oil methyl esters. Prior to analysis, mono-, and diglycerides were silylated with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide; tridecanoin was used as internal standard. Calibration was performed by analysis of standard solutions containing mono-, di-, and triolein: the calibration plots for mono- and diglycerides showed good linearity, whereas for triglycerides no linearity was observed for triolein concentrations below 0.05 mg/ml. When a non-linear multi level calibration was employed for the quantitation of triglycerides, the method gave excellent quantitative results for mono-, di-, and triglycerides in vegetable oil methyl esters.     

Structure elucidation of unsaturated fatty acids after vicinal hydroxylation of the double bonds by negative electrospray ionisation low-energy tandem mass spectrometry

A method for determining the positions of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids by use of negative electrospray ionisation low-energy tandem mass spectrometry is described. First, a vicinal hydroxylation of the double bonds of mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids was performed. Low-energy collision activation dissociation of the deprotonated molecules produced structurally informative ions formed by a-cleavages relative to the hydroxyl groups. Abundant fragment ions that confirmed the positions of all hydroxyl groups, and thus the positions of the double bonds in the native fatty acids, were observed in the spectra of derivatised mono-, di-, and tri-unsaturated fatty acids. Two types of ions were observed, called [alpha'(n)](-) and [alpha(n)](-). The letter n indicates the positions of the hydroxyl groups. The structurally diagnostic ions [alpha'(n)](-) were produced by cleavages distal to the hydroxyl-groups with the charge retained on the carboxylate. [alpha'(n)](-) ions originating from all hydroxyl-groups were observed in the spectra of modified mono-, di-, and tri-unsaturated fatty acids. Initial proton transfer of a hydroxyl proton to the carboxylate with subsequent cleavages proximal to the hydroxyl groups, relative to the carboxylate, resulted in the two structurally diagnostic [alpha(n)](-) ions. In hydroxylated fatty acids having two or more double bonds in their native structure, [alpha(n)](-) ions originating only from the two final hydroxyl-groups were observed. The formation of all ions of [alpha'(n)](-) and [alpha(n)](-) type can be rationalised by a six-membered transition state. Hydroxylated deprotonated tetra-, penta-, and hexa-unsaturated fatty acids also produced [alpha'(n)](-) ions indicating the positions of most of the hydroxyl-groups, whereas the [alpha(n)](-) ions were observed as described above. The method described offers a simple approach to the determination of the positions of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids, and is an alternative to utilising di-lithiated fatty acids. The method should also be applicable when fatty acids are constituents of more complex molecules such as phospholipids.     

Effects of ion-pairing reagents on the electrospray signal suppression of sulphonated dyes and intermediates

High-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) analysis of anionic species such as sulphonic acid dyes and intermediates requires volatile ion-pairing mobile phase additives. Six di- and trialkylammonium acetates were compared with tetraalkylammonium salts and ammonium acetate in the concentration range 0-20 mmol l(-1) as mobile phase additives for HPLC/MS of polysulphonated compounds. The effects of the structure and concentration of the ion-pairing reagents on the electrospray response of mono-, di- and tetrasulphonic aromatic acids and acid dyes were studied in detail. Further, five different mass analysers and instrument geometries were compared. A higher signal decrease is observed with linear geometry instruments in comparison to orthogonal or even Z-spray geometry mass spectrometers. The concentration of mobile phase additives has a significant influence on the abundance ratios of multiply charged ions in the mass spectra of polysulphonated compounds. The competing ions of sulphonic acids may also cause significant signal suppression.     

Retention indices of glycerol esters

The retention indices of 27 mono-, di-, and trisubstituted esters of glycerol and C₁–C₆ carboxylic acids were determined on an OV-101 nonpolar phase in the temperature range 110–250°C. The dependence of the retention indices on temperature and the number of carbon atoms in the acid residue was linear for all compounds. The data obtained can be used for identifying glycerol esters in various mixtures and for predicting their thermodynamic properties.     

Nitration equilibrium in the glycerol-aqueous-nitric-acid system 3. PMR parameters,conformational structure,and main properties of glycerol and its nitrates

Studies of PMR spectra at a frequency of 294 MHz for glycerol, and its mono-, di-, and trinitrates have been carried out in aqueous solutions of nitric and sulfuric acids and in deuteroacetonitrile. The conformational composition weakly depends on the medium, temperature, and the number of nitrate groups in the molecule. Conformers with CH₂ and OH (or ONO₂) located in a trans position have a certain preference. The basicity parameters pK_BH+ and _e and semiprotonation points of glycerol (separately for primary and secondary hydroxyl) and glycerol dinitrates have been determined. In these properties glycerol and its dinitrates are similar to monatomic alcohols. Acidity functions of solutions of sulfuric and nitric acids were calculated using glycerol and glycerol dinitrates as indicators. Unlike Hammett bases, alcohols in H₂O-H₂SO₄ and H₂O-HNO₃ systems of identical molar composition are protonated practically identically.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 381–389, February, 1991.     

Analytical control of an esterification batch reaction between glycerine and fatty acids by near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to control an esterification reaction between glycerine and middle- or long-chain fatty acids performed in a laboratory-scale reactor. The process involves the initial formation of monoglycerides, which is followed by that of di- and triglycerides as well as transesterification. Establishing the end point of the process is critical with a view to ensuring that the end product will have the composition required for its intended use. PLS calibration was applied to industrial and laboratory-scale batch samples, and laboratory samples were additionally used to extend calibration ranges and avoid correlation between the concentration of the batch samples. In this way, PLS calibration models for glycerine, fatty acids, water, and mono-, di- and triglycerides, were constructed. The proposed method allows the reaction to be monitored in real time, thereby avoiding long analysis times, excessive reagent consumption and the obtainment of out-of-specification products.     

HPLC of fatty acid esters of mono- and polyhydric alcohols. Part 2: Preparative separation

This paper demonstrates how simply and rapidly fatty acid esters of mono- and polyhydric alcohols can be separated quantitatively in preparative quantities on Lobar® RP-8 packed columns. After the separation of unknown mixtures, the isolated esters are identified from spectroscopic data (IR/NMR) and, after saponification of the ester components (fatty acids and alcohols), from the retention times of gas and high-pressure liquid chromatographic separations. Thus, in particular, sparingly volatile or nonvolatile partial esters of polyhydric alcohols, as well as the long-chained full esters, can be determined qualitatively and quantitatively. The following fatty acid esters of mono- and polyhydric alcohols have been separated: the i-propylesters of the laurinic and myristinic acids, the i-butyl-, i-octyl- and i-octadecyl-esters of the palmitinic and stearic acids, the mono- and di-fatty acid esters of the 1,3-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5,5-dimethylhydantoins, the mono-, di- and tri-esters of the trimethylalpropane and the full esters of the pentaerythrite.     

A review of chromatographic characterization techniques for biodiesel and biodiesel blends

This review surveys chromatographic technology that has been applied to the characterization of biodiesel and its blends. Typically, biodiesel consists of fatty acid methyl esters produced by transesterification of plant or animal derived triacylglycerols. Primary attention is given to the determination of trace impurities in biodiesel, such as methanol, glycerol, mono-, di-, and triacylglycerols, and sterol glucosides. The determination of the fatty acid methyl esters, trace impurities in biodiesel, and the determination of the biodiesel content of commercial blends of biodiesel in conventional diesel are also addressed.     

HPLC of fatty acid esters of mono- and polyhydric alcohols. Part 1: Analytical separation

This paper shows how simply and yet very rapidly fatty acid esters of monohydric alcohols, but particularly partial and full fatty acid esters of fully hydric alcohols can be separated and determined by means of high-pressure liquid chromatography on LiChrosorb RP-8 with methanol/water. We have separated quantitatively the methylesters of the fatty acids C_8:0 to C_22:0 and C_24:0, the i-propyl-, i-butyl-, n-hexyl- and i-octyl-esters of the even-numbered fatty acids C_8:0 to C_18:0, mono- and difatty acid esters of the 1,3-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5,5-dimethyl-hydantoin, mono-, di- and triesters of the trimethylolpropane as well as the tetraesters of the penta-erythrite.     

Separation and Determination of Monoalkanolamides of Soybean Oil Fatty Acids by RP-HPLC of the Crude Reaction Product

Abstract

A reverse-phase HPLC technique, previously developed by us, was used to achieve satisfactory separation and determination of monoalkanolamides of the soybean oil fatty acids. Four reaction products, each containing a mixture of similar monoalkanolamides of the soybean fatty acids, were analyzed without pretreatment. Structurally, the four monoalkanolamides series differ in their alkanol moiety, having two or three carbon atoms in the alkanol chain which is substituted or unsubstituted. A series of N-methyl monoethanolamides was also prepared and HPLC analyzed. In each case, the separated components were isocratically eluted with a ternary solvent system of tetrahydrofuran-acetonitrile-water at pH 2.6 (37.5:37.5:25 v/v/v), followed by detection with a differential refractometer. In all cases, the elution order was in accordance with the length as well as with the degree of unsaturation of the hydrophobic chain of the monoalkanolamides. The sequence of the eluted components was elucidated by chromatographing, under the same conditions, of the corresponding commercially purchased pure fatty acid methyl esters. As control compounds, the corresponding stearoyl monoalkanolamides, prepared in our laboratory, were individually chromatographed. The HPLC results showed that, in addition to the expected monoalkanolamides, unreacted methyl esters and sometimes amine-esters were separated and detected. For each alkanolamine used, the amidation reaction was discussed.     

Trans-esterification of fatty acids from microorganisms and human blood serum by trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) for GC analysis

Summary Trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) can convert fatty acids into the corresponding fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) in a single step. These fatty acids may also be bound in biomolecules such as phospholipids and/or glycerides. Complex mixtures of saturated and unsaturated FAMEs which may contain hydroxy and cylopropyl groups are obtained by trans-esterification; they can easily be separated in most cases by capillary GC. When FAMEs are generated from different microorganisms e.g. bacteria the patterns of the chromatograms are characteristic. Examples of characteristic patterns of bacteria with different cell wall structures are shown. The described method of transesterification can also be applied directly to blood serum without sophisticated sample pretreatment. The profiles of the chromatograms match well those described in the literature obtained by other methods of trans-esterification or sample preparation.     

CORTICOSTEROID (METHYLPREDNISOLONE) MODULATION OF PHOTOPEROXIDATION BY ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT IN LIPOSOMES

Abstract— UV irradiation of ovolecithin liposomes produced a dose dependent wave of peroxidation which reached a peak and then fell again coincident with substrate exhaustion. This correlated well with subsequent increases in membrane permeability. There was a progressive loss of unsaturated fatty acids, and when cholesterol was incorporated into liposomes, the UV produced a progressive loss of this steroid.
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate, a synthetic corticosteroid, was found to inhibit this peroxidation in a dose dependent manner, also ameliorating membrane permeability increases when present during irradiation, but not able to compensate for pre-existing damage. When cholesterol was present in the liposomes, methylprednisolone sodium succinate was also able to protect this steroid from UV peroxidative damage.
The rates of reaction in this system suggested that polyunsaturated fatty acids, even when present in extremely small concentrations, underwent an initial rapid wave of peroxidation, which served to initiate the slower rate of lipoperoxidation within the bulk of mono- and di-"unsaturates". At low concentrations, the corticosteroid preferentially blocked damage to mono- and di-unsaturated fatty acids, affecting the polyunsaturated fatty acids as well, at higher concentrations.
This study suggests that the corticosteroid, methylprednisolone sodium succinate, possesses antioxidant properties in lipid systems subjected to free radical peroxidation.     

Search for bioactive compounds from Cantharellus cibarius

Ground fruit bodies of Cantharellus cibarius (chanterelle) were extracted with dichloromethane and subjected to CC followed by preparative HPLC, which led to the isolation of glycerol 1,2- and 1,3-dilinoleates and glycerol tridehydrocrepenynate. Extraction of C. cibarius fruit bodies with ethanol or methanol afforded fatty acid ethyl or methyl esters as a result of esterification/transesterification reactions. Insecticidal activity of the isolated glycerides and esters was much lower than that of the crude extracts and chromatographic fractions suggesting a synergistic effect of some of the compounds present in the mixture.     

Forensic identification of spilled biodiesel and its blends with petroleum oil based on fingerprinting information

A case study is presented for the forensic identification of several spilled biodiesels and its blends with petroleum oil using integrated forensic oil fingerprinting techniques. The integrated fingerprinting techniques combined SPE with GC/MS for obtaining individual petroleum hydrocarbons (aliphatic hydrocarbons, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and their alkylated derivatives and biomarkers), and biodiesel hydrocarbons (fatty acid methyl esters, free fatty acids, glycerol, monoacylglycerides, and free sterols). HPLC equipped with evaporative scattering laser detector was also used for identifying the compounds that conventional GC/MS could not finish. The three environmental samples (E1, E2, and E3) and one suspected source sample (S2) were dominant with vegetable oil with high acid values and low concentration of fatty acid methyl ester. The suspected source sample S2 was responsible for the three spilled samples although E1 was slightly contaminated by petroleum oil with light hydrocarbons. The suspected source sample S1 exhibited with the high content of glycerol, low content of glycerides, and high polarity, indicating its difference from the other samples. These samples may be the separated byproducts in producing biodiesel. Canola oil source is the most possible feedstock for the three environmental samples and the suspected source sample S2.     

Determination of esters in glycerol phase after transesterification of vegetable oil

In biodiesel production, glycerol is formed as a side product and it is contained in the glycerol phase. This phase contains (besides glycerol): water, soaps, alcohol, traces of catalyst and glycerides and the remaining esters. In this paper, a new method for the determination of esters in the glycerol phase is introduced. The determination enables the minimization of the losses of biodiesel within the production process. It is based on the gradient RP-LC method (water and acetonitrile) with refractometric detection. The analysis is easy and the samples do not need any treatment (only dilution by water) and has a low detection limit. The results of this method were compared with the results of two other published methods: isocratic HPLC and GC. The disadvantage of these two methods is that they need extensive treatment of the sample, which takes many hours, and they are able to determine only the sum of esters. The new method is reliable, much faster and able to differentiate esters of almost each higher fatty acid (e.g. linoleic, linolenic, strearic alkyl ester) in the glycerol phase.