Fast analysis by gas-liquid chromatography. Perspective on the resolution of complex fatty acid compositions

Separation of fatty acids as methyl ester (FAME) derivatives has been carried out using short and highly polar capillary column developed for fast gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) applications. The GLC parameters have been optimized in order to achieve separation of FAME ranging from 4:0 (butyric acid) to 24:1 in less than 5 min. Milk fat that has by far the most complex fatty acid composition among edible fats and oils has been used to optimize the method. The volume of the oven has been reduced in order to allow for a heating rate of 120 degrees C/min and to rapidly cool-down to the initial temperature (50 degrees C) of the GLC program. The GLC conditions developed are not suitable to achieve separation of positional and geometrical isomers of octadecenoic acid but are useful to perform separation of major fatty acids in milk fat. The conditions developed could be used to analyze edible fats and oils or biological samples such as plasma or red blood cell lipids. The results confirmed that short and highly polar fast columns operating under optimal conditions could be used to separate the fatty acids in various matrices.     

Preparation of biodiesel catalysed by KF/CaO with ultrasound

Biodiesel, chemically consists of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) produced by methanolysis of natural triglycerides, such as animal fats and vegetable oils, is a kind of biomass energy, which is renewable and ecofriendly. In this article, KF/CaO was used as solid base catalyst for transesterification of soya bean oil and methanol, while ultrasound as supplementary means. Compared to mechanical stirring, ultrasound treatment is an effective method to increase the yield of FAME and shorten reaction time. By single-factor method, the optimisation of reaction conditions has been studied. The research showed that the optimum reaction conditions were: w(catalyst)/w(oil): 3%, reaction temperature: 65°C, n(methanol)/n(oil): 12, reaction time: 1?h, sound intensity: 1.01?W?cm(-2), frequency: 20?kHz, the yield of FAME could be 97%.     

Direct analysis of fatty acid profile from milk by thermochemolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The fatty acid composition of milk is of considerable interest due to their nutritional and functional properties. Although rapid milk fat separation and transesterification procedures have been developed, the overall procedure remains time consuming, specially, for the analysis of a large number of samples. In this work, a fast and simple method for direct profiling of fatty acids from milk using thermochemolysis has been developed. This method has the capability of directly analyse fatty acids from one drop of milk without fat extraction or cleanup. Our approach for thermochemolysis is based on thermal desorption integrated with a cold trap inlet. The optimized method does not present isomerisation/degradation of polyunsaturated fatty acid and shows milk fatty acid profiles comparable to the conventional method based on fat extraction and alkaline transesterification. Overall, this method has demonstrated significant potential for high throughput analysis of fatty acids in milk.     

超声作用下KF/CaO催化酯交换反应制备生物柴油

等体积浸渍法制备了KF/CaO固体碱催化剂,用于催化大豆油与甲醇酯交换反应制备生物柴油,在反应体系中引入超声作为辅助条件。研究表明,KF/CaO催化活性高。在超声的辅助作用下,酯交换反应速率加快,生物柴油的收率提高。实验考察了反应条件对产品中脂肪酸甲酯含量的影响。醇油摩尔比为12∶1,反应温度65℃,催化剂与大豆油的质量比为3%,反应1 h,超声频率20 kHz,超声声强1.01 W/cm2,在此反应条件下,产品中脂肪酸甲酯的质量分数达到99.6%。     

Thermal stability evaluation of methylic biodiesel obtained for different oilseeds

Biodiesel is defined as a mixture of mono- or di-alquil esters of vegetable oil or animal fats. During long-term storage, oxidation caused by contact with air (autoxidation) presents a legitimate concern in relation to monitoring and maintaining fuel quality. Extensive oxidative degradation may compromise the quality by adversely affecting kinematic viscosity, acid value, or peroxide value. The oxidation susceptibility of biodiesel, due to the presence of triacilglycerides of poly-unsaturated fatty acids, was evaluated in this study. Samples of sunflower, castor, and soybean biodiesels were obtained through the transesterification reaction, with the intention of achieving the thermal stability study through thermogravimetrical analyses and differential scanning calorimetry high pressure. It was furthermore observed through thermogravimetry and pressure differential scanning calorimetry curves that castor biodiesel exhibited the highest thermal and oxidative stability.     

Utilizing biotechnology in producing fats and oils with various nutritional properties

The role of dietary fat in health and wellness continues to evolve. In today's environment, trans fatty acids and obesity are issues that are impacted by dietary fat. In response to new information in these areas, changes in the amount and composition of edible fats and oils have occurred and are occurring. These compositional changes include variation in fatty acid composition and innovation in fat structure. Soybean, canola, and sunflower are examples of oilseeds with varied fatty acid composition, including mid-oleic, high-oleic, and low-linolenic traits. These trait-enhanced oils are aimed to displace partially hydrogenated vegetable oils primarily in frying applications. Examples of oils with innovation in fat structure include enzyme interesterified (EIE) fats and oils and diacylglycerol oil. EIE fats are a commercial edible fat innovation, where a lipase is used to modify the fat structure of a blend of hard fat and liquid oil. EIE fats are aimed to displace partially hydrogenated vegetable oils in baking and spread applications. Diacylglycerol and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)-based oils are commercial edible oil innovations. Diacylglycerol and MCT-based oils are aimed for individuals looking to store less of these fats as body fat when they are used in place of traditional cooking and salad oils.     

Automated determination of fatty acid methyl ester and cis/trans methyl ester composition of fats and oils

The determination of the fatty acid composition (as methyl esters, FAMEs) of fats and oils and their cis/trans (CTME) distribution requires a simple, but manual and time-consuming sample preparation. The so-called BF3 method is often the preferred procedure. Because FAME/CTME analyses are encountered very frequently in the food industry, an automated, robot-based alternative is proposed which uses the sodium methylate procedure. After sample weighing and the (manual) addition of heptane (2 min), a XYZ robotic autosampler is used for all remaining work, which includes reagent addition, agitation, sample settling and the final injection into the gas chromatograph (10 min). The performance of the sodium methylate and BF3 methods are compared by analysing some 30 oil and fat samples. The novel procedure is much faster (less than 15 min versus ca. 1 h) and manual sample handling is drastically decreased. The experimental results obtained with the two methods frequently are the same, while small differences can be explained by (known) differences of the two methods in the conversion of minor oil/fat constituents, such as free fatty acids, wax esters and sterol esters. In case of FAME analyses, a hot injection is to be preferred over a cold injection. The RSDs of the peak areas were 1.5% for the major fatty acids to 11% for peaks that were just above the noise level. The detection limit were approximately 0.03%.     

Clean synthesis of biodiesel over solid acid catalysts of sulfonated mesopolymers

FDU-15-SO₃H, a solid acid material prepared from the sulfonation of FDU-15 mesoporous polymer, has been demonstrated to serve as an efficient catalyst in the esterification of palmitic acid with methanol as well as in the transesterification of fatty acid-edible oil mixture. FDU-15-SO₃H achieved an acid conversion of 99.0% when the esterification was carried out at 343 K with a methanol/palmitic acid molar ratio of 6:1 and 5 wt% catalyst loading. It was capable of giving 99.0% yield of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) when the transesterification of soybean oil was performed at 413 K and the methanol/oil weight ratio of 1:1. FDU-15-SO₃H was further applied to the transesterification/esterification of the oil mixtures with a varying ratio of soybean oil to palmitic acid, which simulated the feedstock with a high content of free fatty acids. The yield of FAME reached 95% for the oil mixtures containing 30 wt% palmitic acid. This indicated the sulfonated mesopolymer was a potential catalyst for clean synthesis of fuel alternative of biodiesel from the waste oil without further purification.     

Determination of lipids in infant formula powder by direct extraction methylation of lipids and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) analysis by gas chromatography.

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) of pure triglyceride standards, oils, and fat from dry matrixes were formed by transesterification using sodium methoxide in methanol-hexane. FAMEs were produced by direct addition of sodium methoxide-hexane to samples and heating to simultaneously extract and transesterify acyl lipids. FAMEs were quantitated by capillary gas chromatography (GC) over a fatty acid concentration range of 0 to 1.7 mg/mL (r > or = 0.9997). Total fat was calculated as the sum of individual fatty acids expressed as triglyceride equivalents, in accordance with nutrition labeling guidelines. Saturated, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated fats were calculated as sums of individual free fatty acids. Absolute recoveries determined from individual fatty acids in test samples ranged from 69.7 to 106%. Recoveries (relative to the C13:0 internal standard) for individual fatty acids in test samples ranged from 95 to 106%. Reproducibility was constant at each fatty acid level in the reaction mixture (n = 5, coefficient of variation [CV] < 2%). Absolute recovery determined from the sum of total fatty acids in standard reference material (SRM) 1846 (powdered infant formula) was 96.4%. Analysis of SRM 1846 gave results that agreed closely with the certified fat and fatty acid values. Analysis of commercial infant formula gave results that were comparable to those obtained with AOAC Method 996.01. The direct extraction methylation procedure is rapid, and the transesterification of acyl lipids to form FAMEs is complete within 15 min. Classical saponification and refluxing are not required. This method provides FAMEs free of interferences and easily quantitated by GC or confirmed by GC/mass spectrometry (MS). Unambiguous MS identification of individual FAMEs derived from pure standards, SRM 1846, and powdered infant formula product was obtained.     

Overview of infrared methodologies for trans fat determination

trans Fatty acids are present in a variety of foods like dairy products, but the major sources are products that contain commercially hydrogenated fats. Some studies have shown that trans fatty acids elevate levels of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. The quantitation and identification of trans fatty acid isomers is difficult because of the wide range of positional monoene, diene, and triene fatty acid isomers present in hydrogenated oils. This is complicated by the cis positional isomers that are also present, as well as the lack of commercial chromatographic standards for many fatty acid isomers. In this review, infrared methodologies for the determination of total trans fat are presented. Using an attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared cell, a novel Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic method that was developed for the rapid (5 min) quantitation of the total trans fatty acid levels in neat (without solvent) fats and oils measured as triacylglycerols (TAG) is discussed. TAG required no derivatization, but had to be melted prior to measurement. The lower limit of trans quantitation was 5% of total fat. The precision of this ATR method was found to be superior to that of transmission infrared official methods. Accuracy was enhanced by generating a symmetric absorption trans infrared band at 966 cm(-1) on a horizontal background. This was achieved by "ratioing" the single-beam spectrum of the trans-containing fat or oil against that of a reference oil or standard having only cis double bonds. Attempts to apply this ATR-FTIR method to food matrixes with low trans fat and/or low total fat content were not satisfactory due to interfering infrared absorptions in the trans region. To overcome this interference, the method was modified by applying the standard addition technique to the ATR-FTIR determination. The modified procedure required more time, but eliminated any adverse impact on accuracy arising from interfering minor food components having absorption bands near 966 cm(-1).     

Identification of minor C18 triene and conjugated diene isomers in hydrogenated soybean oil and margarine by GC-MI-FT-IR spectroscopy

Vegetable oils are partially hydrogenated in order to produce palatable products of suitable plasticity. The constituents of these new dietary products are complex mixtures of fatty acid isomers with different nutritional properties. A rapid method is described for separating and identifying fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) isomers of linolenic (octadecatrienoic, 18:3) acid and of conjugated octadecadienoic (18:2) acid, minor species found in hydrogenated soybean oil and margarine, by capillary gas chromatography-matrix isolation-Fourier transform-infrared (GC-MI-FT-IR) spectroscopy. FAMEs of 18:3 acid isomers in margarine, soybean oil hydrogenated in our laboratory, and isomerized linolenic acid were identified by this method, and MI-FT-IR spectra of FAME geometric isomers of octadecatrienoic and conjugated octadecadienoic acids are reported for the first time. Five major C18 triene GC peaks are found in chromatograms of isomerized methyl linolenate, representing species with tri-cis and tri-trans configurations and three species with cis-trans mixed configurations. FAME isomers with these configurations are also found for a hydrogenated soybean oil having an iodine value of 111. Methyl linolenate (tri-cis) is no longer found when soybean oil is further hydrogenated to an iodine value of 96. IR spectra characteristic of a tri-trans isomer are obtained for two test samples with iodine values of 111 and 96. Besides methyl linolenate, only isomers with a mono-trans di-cis configuration are found for the margarine analyzed. Conjugated cis-trans and trans-trans 18:2 FAME isomers are also found in all the hydrogenated soybean oil and margarine analyzed.     

Regiospecific characterisation of the triacylglycerols in animal fats using high performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

High performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI MS) was applied to the characterisation of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in animal fats. The major TAGs in four fats (beef, chicken, lamb and pork) were identified and positional isomers assigned according to their APCI mass spectra. Beef and lamb fat TAGs were confirmed as containing higher proportions of saturated fatty acids compared with those of chicken and pork. HPLC-APCI MS was also shown to be of value in providing regiospecific information for the fatty acids in individual TAG species. For example, beef and lamb fat were shown to contain both cis- and trans-isomers of the 18:1 fatty acid, whilst chicken and pork contained only the cis-isomer. When the position of fatty acid substitution was determined from the APCI spectra, whilst the cis- 18:1 was predominantly found in the 2-position of the TAG, the trans-18:1 showed a preference for the 1/3-position. Similarly, it was confirmed that although the 2-position of beef, chicken and lamb fat TAGs was dominated by unsaturated fatty acids, in pork fat, a characteristically high proportion of palmitic acid was seen in this position. The TAGs identified compared well with those reported previously. The distributions of 2-position fatty acids seen in lamb and pork fat compared favourably with those obtained by the more traditional method of lipase degradation. Although the distributions for chicken and beef showed some discrepancies, these can be attributed to weaknesses in the quantification procedure or the specificity of the lipase. Overall, the technique of HPLC-APCI MS has been shown to be very powerful for the regiospecific analysis of animal fats.     

Alkali-katalysierte Umesterungsmethoden für die gas-chromatographische Analyse der Fettsäuremethylester aus Lipoiden

Sodium methylate splits the ester linkage of glycerides, glycerophosphatides, cholesterin esters, waxes, and estercerebrosides under formation of fatty acid methylesters. Sodium methylate neither attacks the acid-amide linkage nor esterifies free fatty acids. Patty acid methylesters can be easily prepared for gas-liquid chromatography by the described alkali-catalyzed transesterification methods. The advantages of these methods are: 1. the simplicity of the technique, 2. the rapidity of the trans-esterification reaction, 3. the various combinations with thin-layer chromatography, 4. the application for the analysis of μg-quantities, and 5. the rapid parallel preparation of many samples on silicagel plates.     

Fat content for nutritional labeling by supercritical fluid extraction and an on-line lipase catalyzed reaction

A method using sequential supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and enzymatic transesterification has been developed for the rapid determination of total nutritional fat content in meat samples. SFE conditions of 12.16 MPa and 50°C were utilized to extract lipid species from the sample matrix. The enzymatic transesterification of the lipids by methanol was catalyzed by an immobilized lipase isolated from Candida antarctica. Conversion of the triglycerides to fatty acid methyl esters was monitored by supercritical fluid chromatography, while the fatty acid content of the extract was determined by capillary gas chromatography (GC). Total fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat contents were calculated from the GC data and compared to values from traditional extraction and lipid determination methods. Both off-line SFE and automated SFE followed by on-line GC analysis using two different instruments were utilized in this study. The enzymatic-based SFE method gave comparable results to the organic solvent extraction-based method followed by conventional BF₃-catalyzed esterification.     

Optimization of the selectivity of a cyanopropyl stationary phase for the gas chromatographic analysis of trans fatty acids

The quantification of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated trans fatty acids in partially hydrogenated fats by gas-liquid chromatography on a CP-Select CB-FAME capillary column was optimized using equivalent chain length values of fatty acids methyl esters that could coelute in the temperature range from 155 to 200 degrees C. The most appropriate temperature for the simultaneous determination of these trans isomers is around 197 degrees C. It is proposed a system to discriminate trans from cis octadecenoic fatty acid methyl esters based on the angular coefficient values of the equivalent chain length curves. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.28 and 0.93 mg g(-1). Quantification was performed in the range from 0.93 to 280 mg g(-1). Quantification accuracy was estimated by spike recovery of elaidic and trans-13-octadecenoic acids in hydrogenated fat samples. The obtained levels were from 97.60 to 103.28% for elaidic acid and from 98.12 to 99.27% for trans-13-octadecenoic acid. These results indicate that the accuracy of the methodology proposed for the quantification of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated trans fatty acids in hydrogenated fats is adequate.     

Rapid characterization of edible oils by direct matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis using triacylglycerols

Direct matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric (MALDI-TOFMS) analysis of solutions of edible fats/oils yielded spectra useful for their rapid differentiation and classification. Results also reflected the individual fatty acid components and their degree of unsaturation. After dissolution in hexane, MALDI-MS analysis revealed spectra showing characteristic triacylglycerols (TAGs), the main fat/oil components, as sodium adduct ions. The Euclidean distances calculated using the mass and intensity values for 20 TAGs were used to evaluate and compare spectra. With cluster analysis, animal fats grouped together differently than vegetable oils and the individual oils grouped together by type. The ion abundances for the individual TAGs and their presumed compositions were used to approximate the overall fatty acid composition of canola, soybean, corn, olive and peanut oil, as well as lard. Using this approach the calculated fatty acid compositions and degree of unsaturation generally fell within about 4% of literature values. When the degree of saturation was compared with values calculated from the package labeling the differences were about 7%.     

Biodiesel Production via the Transesterification of Soybean Oil Using Waste Starfish (Asterina pectinifera)

Calcined waste starfish was used as a base catalyst for the production of biodiesel from soybean oil for the first time. A batch reactor was used for the transesterification reaction. The thermal characteristics and crystal structures of the waste starfish were investigated by thermo-gravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction. The biodiesel yield was determined by measuring the content of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). The calcination temperature appeared to be a very important parameter affecting the catalytic activity. The starfish-derived catalyst calcined at 750 °C or higher exhibited high activity for the transesterification reaction. The FAME content increased with increasing catalyst dose and methanol-over-oil ratio.     

ToF‐SIMS spectrometry to observe fatty acid profiles of breast tissues in broiler chicken subjected to varied vegetable oil diet

This study is aimed to observe changes in fatty acid profiles by time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) in breast muscle tissues of broilers. Four different groups were identified. The source of fat in group I was soy oil (rich in linoleic acid, ω‐6), group II received linseed oil (ω‐3), and the third group was fed a mixture of the two mentioned oils. Broilers in the control group were fed with beef tallow, used in mass commercial production. The results reveal that the use of vegetable oils in animal nutrition determines the lipid profile of fatty acids. ToF‐SIMS measurements showed that the lipid profile of muscle fibers and intramuscular fat reflect the composition of fats used as feed additives. In both structures, the ratio of ω‐6/ω‐3 fatty acids, which is most favorable for human health, was found in the groups in which a mixture of vegetable oils and a supplement of linseed oil were used.     

Identification of volatile aroma compounds in processed cheese analogues based on different types of fat

The simple and rapid solid-phase micro-extraction method using gas chromatography was used for the identification and quantification of volatile aroma compounds in various types of processed cheese analogues produced from different types of fat (butter, butter oil, coconut oil, palm oil, and sunflower oil). In total, 31 organic compounds belonging to five chemical groups were identified, with the alcohols and fatty acids quantitatively predominant. The contents of the aroma compounds (the so-called aroma profiles) of the analogues and corresponding fats used as raw materials were compared. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between samples. The highest total content of aroma compounds was found in coconut oil analogue ((547.30 ± 9.82) mg kg^?1), the lowest in palm oil analogue ((372.01 ± 16.16) mg kg^?1). The concentrations of aroma compounds in fats were substantially lower (p < 0.05) than in analogues. Hence, the largest number of aroma analogues came from Edam cheese used for production as a protein source.     

Sensitive and accurate quantitation of monoepoxy fatty acids in thermoxidized oils by gas-liquid chromatography

A sensitive and accurate methodology for quantitation of monoepoxy fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by gas-liquid chromatography is proposed. Analytical problems of interfering compounds, ie, methyl monoester of azelaic acid and methyl docosanoate, were solved by a second methylation step with diazomethane and by elimination of nonpolar FAME by adsorption chromatography, respectively. Six monoepoxy FAME were identified and quantitated in olive and sunflower oils heated at 180 degrees C for 15 h: trans-9,10- and cis-9,10-epoxystearate coming from oleate and trans-12,13-, trans-9,10-, cis-12,13- and cis-9,10-epoxyoleate coming from linoleate. Results demonstrated total recovery of monoepoxy compounds after nonpolar FAME elimination with the additional advantage of sample concentration, which allowed quantitation of monoepoxy FAME in the initial oils. Also, repeatability was excellent as relative standard deviations ranged from 2.2 to 5.1% for on-column injection and from 0.1 to 2.0% for automatic split injection.