Selectivity and efficiency enhancement of supercritical fluid extraction by application of reactive additives. I. The analysis of calcium montanate using citric acid as a complexing agent

It has been demonstrated that calcium montanate (a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, fatty acid esters of C₂₈–C₃₂ acids, the calcium salts of these fatty acids, and the acids themselves) can be selectively extracted with supercritical fluids. By use of carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide containing 10% methanol, and carbon dioxide containing 10% methanol and citric acid (as a further additive), the various compound classes could be isolated with high selectivity. The addition of citric acid results in the complexation of Ca²⁺ and the simultaneous formation of the free fatty acids, which are soluble in the extractant.     

Determination of 30 Free Fatty Acids in Two Famous Tibetan Medicines by HPLC with Fluorescence Detection and Mass Spectrometric Identification

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection and mass spectrometric identification has been developed for analysis of 30 long-chain and short-chain free fatty acids (FFAs). The fatty acids were derivatized to their esters with 1-[2-(p-toluenesulfonate)ethyl]-2-phenylimidazole-[4,5-f]-9,10-phenanthrene (TSPP) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 90 °C with anhydrous K₂CO₃ as catalyst. A mixture of C₁–C₃₀ fatty acids was completely separated within 60 min by gradient elution on a reversed-phase C₈ column. Qualitative identification of the acids was performed by atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI–MS) in positive-ion mode. The fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths were 260 and 380 nm, respectively. Quantitative determination of the 30 acids in two Tibetan medicines Gentiana straminea and G. dahurica was performed. The results indicated that the medicines contained many FFAs. Linear correlation coefficients for the FFA derivatives were >0.9991. Relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 6) for the fatty acid derivatives were <3%. Detection limits (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1) were 3.1–38 fmol. When the fatty acid derivatives were determined in the two real samples results were satisfactory and the sensitivity and reproducibility of the method were good.     

An improved derivatization method for sensitive determination of fatty acids by high-performance liquid chromatography using 9-(2-hydroxylethyl)-carbazole as derivatization reagent with fluorescence detection

Summary Tagging techniques with reagents used for fluorescent detection for short and long-chain fatty acids using high-performance liquid chromatography are evaluated in terms of the tagging reactions, handing, flexibility, stability of the reagents. Emphasis is given to the applications of the tagging techniques to relatively high molecular mass fatty acids. The fatty acids or carboxylic compounds were derivatized to their corresponding esters with 9-(2-hydroxy ethyl)-carbazole (HEC) in acetonitrile at 60°C with N, N′-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) as a coupling agent in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). A mixture of esters of C₁−C₂₀ fatty acids was completely separated with 45 min using gradient elution on a reversed-phase C₁₈ column. The maximum fluorescence emission for the derivatized fatty acids is at 365 nm (λ_ex 293 nm). Studies on derivatization conditions indicated that fatty acids react rapidly and smoothly with HEC in the presence of CDI and DMAP in acetonitrile to give the corresponding sensitively fluorescent derivatives. The application of this method to the analysis of long chain fatty acids in plasma is also investigated. The LC separation shows good selectivity and reproducibility for fatty acids derivatives. The relative standard deviations (n=6) for each fatty acid derivative are <5.0%. The detection limits are at 38–57 fmol levels for C₁₄−C₂₀ fatty acids and lower levels for <C₁₄ fatty acids.     

Analytical characterization of mannosylerythritol lipid biosurfactants produced by biosynthesis based on feedstock sources from the agrofood industry

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are currently one of the most promising biosurfactants because of their multifunctional applications and good biodegradability. Depending on the yeast strain and the feedstock used for the fermentation process, structural variations in the MELs obtained occur. Therefore, MELs produced by Pseudozyma aphidis DSMZ 70725 with a soybean oil feedstock were characterized by chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS). Column chromatography with silica provided fractionation of the different types of MEL. High-performance liquid chromatography combined with MS was employed for the analysis of the MEL fractions and crude mixtures. A characteristic MS pattern for the MELs was obtained and indications of the presence of new MEL homologues, showing the incorporation of longer and more unsaturated fatty acid chains than previously reported, were given. Gas chromatography?CMS analysis confirmed the presence of such unsaturated fatty acid chains in the MELs, demonstrating the incorporation of fatty acids with lengths ranging from C₈ to C₁₄ and with up to two unsaturations per chain. The incorporation of C₁₆ and C₁₈ fatty acid chains requires further investigation. MS/MS data allowed the unambiguous identification of the fatty acids present in the MELs. The product ion spectra also revealed the presence of a new isomeric class of MELs, bearing an acetyl group on the erythritol moiety.     

Rapid analysis of free medium-chain fatty acids and related ethyl esters in beer using SPE and HRGC

A modification of a procedure by Hage [1] is proposed for the gas chromatographic evaluation of the content of free medium-chain fatty acids and related ethyl esters in beer. The method involves extraction of free fatty acids and ethyl esters by SPE using C₁₈ bonded phase columns, derivatization of free fatty acids and related ethyl esters with diazomethane, and GC analysis using an SP-2340 capillary column. The results obtained have shown the method to be rapid and highly reproducible. The technique has been compared with other methods used for determination of free fatty acids.     

Analysis of fatty acids in lung tissues using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry preceded by derivatization-solid-phase microextraction with a novel fiber

In this article, a laboratory-made sol-gel derived fiber with butyl methacrylate/hydroxy-terminated silicone oil (BMA/OH-TSO) coating was first used for headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) of medium and long chain fatty acids after derivatization and applied to the analysis of fatty acids in lung tissues by coupling to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The experimental parameters for derivatization, HS-SPME and desorption were optimized. Fatty acids in cancerous lung tissues from five patients with lung cancer were determined under the optimized conditions. Normal lung tissues from the same five patients were used as controls. This fiber showed higher extraction efficiency for fatty acids after derivatization when compared with commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fibers due to the three-dimensional network in the coating. The method presented in this paper showed satisfactory precision, accuracy, linearity and limits of detection (LODs). The relative standard deviation values were below 13.3% (n = 5) and the recoveries obtained ranged from 76.35% to 107.0%. The results obtained using the SPME method were also compared with those got by using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) technique. It was found that the sensitivity could be enhanced by the SPME method. The analysis of the cancerous lung tissues and normal controls from five patients with lung cancer indicated that the main components of lung tissue were palmitic acid (C_16:0), stearic acid (C_18:0) and lignoceric acid (C_24:0). A comparison between the levels of the fatty acids in cancerous lung tissues and normal controls from the same a patient with lung cancer shows that most of the saturated fatty acids showed higher levels in cancerous lung tissues, while unsaturated fatty acids showed higher levels in normal controls on the whole.     

Rapid and Quantitative Blood Analysis for Free Fatty Acids by Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A quantitative analysis of fatty acids in micro-samples of dried blood spots by chemical ionization mass spectrometry has been developed. Isotope determination was used as the quantitating technique using the corresponding deuterium labeled internal standards. The procedure yields excellent precision and accuracy as demonstrated by the analysis of known fatty acid mixtures and of both C_12:0 to C_18:0 acids and phytanic acid in the blood from patients.     

Study of the GC–MS determination of the palmitic–stearic acid ratio for the characterisation of drying oil in painting: La Encarnación by Alonso Cano as a case study

The correct identification of drying oils plays an essential role in providing an understanding of the conservation and deterioration of artistic materials in works of art. To this end, this work proposes the use of peak area ratios from fatty acids after ensuring that the linear responses of the detector are tested. A GC-MS method, previously reported in the literature, was revisited to its developed and validated in order to identify and quantify of eight fatty acids that are widely used as markers for drying oils in paintings, namely myristic acid (C_14:0), palmitic acid (C_16:0), stearic acid (C_18:0), oleic acid (C_18:1), linoleic acid (C_18:2), suberic acid (2C₈), azelaic acid, (2C₉) and sebacic acid (2C₁₀). The quaternary ammonium reagent m-(trifluoromethyl)phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (TMTFAH) was used for derivatization prior to GC-MS analysis of the oils. MS spectra were obtained for each methyl ester derivative of the fatty acids and the characteristic fragments were identified. The method was validated in terms of calibration functions, detection and quantification limits and reproducibility using the signal recorded in SIR mode, since two of the methyl derivatives were not totally separated in the chromatographic run. The proposed method was successfully applied to identify and characterise the most widely used drying oils (linseed oil, poppy seed oil and walnut oil) in the painting La Encarnación. This 17th century easel painting is located in the main chapel of the cathedral in Granada (Spain) and was painted by the well-known artist of the Spanish Golden Age, Alonso Cano (1601-1667).     

Determination of trace volatile fatty acids in ambient air by capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in SIM mode

A simple, rapid and sensitive method was developed and validated for the analysis of C₂–C₅ volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in ambient air. This method involves preconcentration of VFAs with a sodium carbonate-impregnated silica gel tube, ultrasonic extraction with pure water, partition of VFAs to diethyl ether and determination using gas chromatography with a mass selective detector in the selected ion monitoring mode. A water-resistant free fatty acid phase capillary column was used to directly separate C₂–C₅ VFAs without the time-consuming derivatisation process. The limits of detection ranged from 0.001 to 0.003 µg m^?3 and the limits of quantification ranged from 0.003 to 0.010 µg m^?3. The validated method was successfully applied to the analysis trace-level VFAs in ambient air and in air samples from a landfill with perceived odour pollution.     

Production of Lipid and Fatty Acids during Growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus terreus</Emphasis> on Hydrocarbon Substrates

An Aspergillus terreus, isolated from oil contaminated soil, could degrade a wide range of petroleum hydrocarbons including the immediate oxidation products of hydrocarbons, like alkanols and alkanals. Among all the linear chain carbon substrates, highest growth of 39.1 ± 3.8 g l⁻¹ (wet weight) was observed when n-hexadecane was used as the sole source of carbon. The growth of the fungus on this highly hydrophobic substrate was associated with the morphological change of the hyphae and increase production of lipid in the cells. The lipid production in the hydrocarbon (n-hexadecane) grown cells was sevenfold higher than the corresponding glucose grown cells. The fatty acid profile of the lipid content formed in the hydrocarbon grown cells was significantly different from the glucose grown cells and was composed of fatty acids with chain length C₁₄ to C₃₃ as revealed from the liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses. Among the ranges, the fatty acids with chain lengths C₁₄ to C₁₈ were predominant in the profile. Considering the fatty acid profile and the high level of lipid production, this A. terreus mediated production of lipid is envisaged to have potential application in the oleochemical industries including the production of biodiesel.     

Evaluation of vinasses from sugarcane molasses distillation as a new source of sugarcane wax

Molasses, a by-product of sugar manufacturing, are the most common raw material for rum manufacturing. During the fermentation and distillation process, vinasses are produced in large quantities and disposed in landfills. In this study, they were evaluated as a new source of sugarcane wax. The chemical composition of the wax was studied by GC-Mass spectroscopy. A series of n-alkanes (C₂₃–C₃₃) and ethyl and methyl esters of fatty acids (palmitate and oleate are the predominant), of phytosterols (stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, campesterol), free fatty acids (C_12:0–C_36:0), and triglycerides constitute the main components. In addition, 2-ketones (C₂₇–C₃₃), aldehydes (C₂₈, C₃₂, C₃₄), ketosteroids (derivatives of stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and campesterol), and fatty alcohol acetates (alcohol moiety: C₂₈, C₃₀, C₃₂) were found as minor products. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 448–450, September-October, 2008. Original article submitted March 19, 2007.     

Surface Activity of Fatty Acid Salts in Aqueous Solutions

The surface activity of sodium, potassium and, ammonium salts of fatty acids [stearic, oleic, synthetic fatty acids (C_{1 3}-C_{1 5} fractions), higher fatty acids contained in bottoms after separation of volatile fatty acids from cotton oil] in aqueous solutions was studied and analyzed.     

Single Cell Oil Production from Hydrolysates of Inulin by a Newly Isolated Yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Papiliotrema laurentii</Emphasis> AM113 for Biodiesel Making

Microbial oils are among the most attractive alternative feedstocks for biodiesel production. In this study, a newly isolated yeast strain, AM113 of Papiliotrema laurentii, was identified as a potential lipid producer, which could accumulate a large amount of intracellular lipids from hydrolysates of inulin. P. laurentii AM113 was able to produce 54.6% (w/w) of intracellular oil in its cells and 18.2 g/l of dry cell mass in a fed-batch fermentation. The yields of lipid and biomass were 0.14 and 0.25 g per gram of consumed sugar, respectively. The lipid productivity was 0.092 g of oil per hour. Compositions of the fatty acids produced were C_14:0 (0.9%), C_16:0 (10.8%), C_16:1 (9.7%), C_18:0 (6.5%), C_18:1 (60.3%), and C_18:2 (11.8%). Biodiesel obtained from the extracted lipids could be burnt well. This study not only provides a promising candidate for single cell oil production, but will also probably facilitate more efficient biodiesel production.     

Nonglyceride complex of the seed oil ofOnopordum acanthium

Extraction of the comminuted seeds has yielded an oil from which have been isolated: C₃₃-C₂₅, C₁₈ and C₁₇ paraffinic hydrocarbons, C_18:1, C_18:2, C_18:3, C_17:1, C_17:2 and C_17:3 olefinic hydrocarbons, ethyl esters of C_32:0, C_31:0, C_30:0, C_29:0, and C_28:0 fatty acids, sterols with molecular weights of 414, 412, and 400, and the alcohols α-amyrin and lupeol with their natural acetates. Extraction of the uncomminuted seeds has shown that the paraffinic hydrocarbons, ethyl esters, and alcohol acetates pass into the oil from the husks of the seeds. This is the first time that the C_31:0 and C_29:0 fatty acids have been detected as natural compounds, and it is the first time that the ethyl esters of C₃₄, C₃₃, C₃₂, C₃₁, and C₃₀ fatty acids have been isolated from seed oils of higher plants.     

Analysis of thermal,oxidative and cold flow properties of methyl and ethyl esters prepared from soybean and mustard oils

Oilseed crop with high oil content and promising ecological adaptability are potential sources for competitive biodiesel production. This study investigates the scope of utilizing biodiesel development through the methyl and ethyl ester from soybean and mustard oil as an alternative fuel. Methyl and ethyl esters of oils having different fatty acids compositions such as soybean (SOME and SOEE) and mustard oil (MUME and MUEE) were prepared by transesterification with methanol and ethanol in the presence of an alkali-KOH catalyst. The gas chromatographic (GC) analysis of oil samples revealed that primary fatty acid composition in soybean oil was linoleic acid (C_18:2, 51.93%), followed by oleic acid (C_18:1, 22.82%), palmitic acid (C_16:0, 11.56%), linolenic acid (C_18:3, 5.95%) and stearic acid (C_18:0, 4.32%). Whereas, the main components in mustard oil were erucic acid (C_22:1, 32.81%), oleic acid (C_18:1, 24.98%), eicosenoic acid (C_20:1, 10.44%), linolenic acid (C_18:3, 8.61%) and palmitic acid (C_16:0, 2.80%). The physicochemical properties (acid value, iodine value, calorific value, flash point, pour point etc.) of methyl and ethyl ester samples were estimated and found to be within the acceptable range of ASTM D6751 standards specifications. The prepared esters and oil samples were examined for cold flow properties by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results revealed better cold flow properties for MUME (−2.55 °C) and MUEE (−3.10 °C) than SOME (3.21 °C) and SOEE (1.83 °C) due to more unsaturated fatty acid content in MU. Thermal and oxidative stability of samples was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The thermal and oxidative stability ranking of the samples was in the order of oil > methyl esters > ethyl esters.

     

Creation and evaluation of a two-dimensional contour plot of fatty acid methyl esters after off-line coupling of reversed-phase HPLC and GC/EI-MS

Fatty acid methyl esters obtained from a fish oil sample were fractionated by non-aqueous reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) using three serially connected C₁₈-columns and pure methanol as the eluent. The HPLC fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography–electron ionization mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode. Data analysis and visualization was performed by the creation of a two-dimensional (2D) contour plot, in which GC retention times were plotted against the HPLC fractions. The 2D contour plot resulted in a full resolution of more than 120 fatty acids. The fatty acids were arranged on predictable lines and curves in dependence of the number of carbons and double bonds. The 2D contour plot enabled both the recognition of unknown fatty acids (which were found off the lines and curves) and the prediction of the coordinates of known fatty acids. Finally, selected HPLC fractions were subjected to further experiments (hydrogenation, silver ion fractionation, specific GC/MS measurements) in order to verify the structural assignments predicted from the 2D contour plot. All in all, the structures of over 100 FAs could be assigned to the peaks detected in the 2D contour plots.     

Lipids of the petals ofCarthamus tinctorius

The following compounds have been identified in the lipids of the petals ofCarthamus tinctorius: C₃₂ and C₂₉ isoparaffins; free fatty acids, the main component of which is palmitic acid; 33 esters of phytol, esterified with three groups of fatty acids — paraffinic, isoparaffinic, and monoenoic of the C₉–C₂₆ series; and β-sitosterol and its β-D-glucopyranoside.     

Ammonia-treated N-(1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine dihydrochloride as a novel matrix for rapid quantitative and qualitative determination of serum free fatty acids by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The blood free fatty acids (FFAs), which provide energy to the cell and act as substrates in the synthesis of fats, lipoproteins, liposaccharides, and eicosanoids, involve in a number of important physiological processes. In the present study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI-FTICR MS) with ammonia-treated N-(1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (ATNEDC) as a novel MALDI matrix in a negative ion mode was employed to directly quantify serum FFAs. Multiple point internal standard calibration curves between the concentration ratios of individual fatty acids to internal standard (IS, C_17:0) versus their corresponding intensity ratios were constructed for C_14:0, C_16:1, C_16:0, C_18:0, C_18:1, C_18:2, C_18:3, C_20:4, and C_22:6, respectively, in their mixture, with correlation coefficients between 0.991 and 0.999 and limits of detection (LODs) between 0.2 and 5.4 μM, along with the linear dynamic range of more than two orders of magnitude. The results indicate that the multiple point internal standard calibration could reduce the impact of ion suppression and improve quantification accuracy in the MALDI mode. The quantitative results of nine FFAs from 339 serum samples, including 161 healthy controls, 118 patients with hyperglycemia and 60 patients without hyperglycemia show that FFAs levels in hyperglycemic patient sera are significantly higher than those in healthy controls and patients without hyperglycemia, and elevated FFA levels are also associated with increased levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) in hyperglycemic patient sera. Serum FFAs were identified on the basis of the observed accurate molecular masses and reliable isotope distributions obtained by MALDI-FTICR MS.     

Analysis of fatty acids in mouse cells using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Summary A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed to analyze various fatty acids in recombinant mouse L cells. These fatty acids were the metabolites of oleic acid. A process was developed to extract fatty acids from the cell samples before RP-HPLC analysis. The samples were first saponified with 0.5 M NaOH in 96% ethanol then extracted with acidified ethyl acetate. After extraction, the sample was dried and dissolved in HPLC-grade methanol. After centrifugation to remove insoluble impurities, the sample was applied to a C₁₈RP-HPLC column using a gradient of acetonitrile (ACN)-H₂O. The eluted fatty acids were monitored by ultraviolet (UV) absorption at 195 nm and identified by retention time and adsorption spectrum comparison. This method successfully resolved various fatty acids and provided a tool for the elucidation of the fatty acid metabolic pathway in the cells.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of symmetrically structured triacylglycerols possessing short-chain fatty acids

Synthesis of symmetrically structured triacylglycerols possessing bioactive n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid) at the 2-position and a short-chain fatty acid (C₂, C₄, C₆) located at the end-positions by a highly efficient two-step chemoenzymatic process is described. Full regiocontrol devoid of any acyl-migration side reactions was obtained in both a lipase promoted step to introduce the short-chain fatty acids exclusively into the primary alcohol positions of glycerol using activated vinyl esters at low temperature and a subsequent coupling reaction involving free EPA and DHA using EDAC as a coupling agent.