Methods for analysis of conjugated linoleic acids and trans-18:1 isomers in dairy fats by using a combination of gas chromatography, silver-ion thin-layer chromatography/gas chromatography, and silver-ion liquid chromatography

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are octadecadienoic acids (18:2) that have a conjugated double-bond system. Interest in these compounds has expanded since CLA were found to be associated with a number of physiological and pathological responses such as cancer, metastases, atherosclerosis, diabetes, immunity, and body fat/protein composition. The main sources of these conjugated fatty acids are dairy fats. Rumen bacteria convert polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic and linolenic acids, to CLA and numerous trans- containing mono- and diunsaturated fatty acids. It has been established that an additional route of CLA synthesis in ruminants and monogastric animals, including humans, occurs via delta9 desaturation of the trans-18:1 isomers. To date, a total of 6 positional CLA isomers have been found in dairy fats, each occurring in 4 geometric forms (cis,trans; trans,cis; cis,cis; and trans,trans) for a total of 24. All of these CLA isomers can be resolved only by a combination of gas chromatography (GC), using 100 m highly polar capillary columns, and silver-ion liquid chromatography, using 3 of these 25 cm columns in series. Complete analysis of all the trans-18:1 isomers requires prior isolation of trans monoenes by silver-ion thin-layer chromatography (TLC), followed by GC analysis using the same 100 m capillary columns operated at low temperatures starting from 120 degrees C. These analytical techniques are required to assess the purity of commercial CLA preparations, because their purity will affect the interpretation of any physiological and/or biochemical response obtained. Prior assessment of CLA preparations by TLC is also recommended to determine the presence of any other impurities. The availability of pure CLA isomers will permit the evaluation and analysis of individual CLA isomers for their nutritional and biological activity in model systems, animals, and humans. These techniques are also essential to evaluate dairy fats for their content of specific CLA isomers and to help design experimental diets to increase the level of the desired CLA isomers in dairy fats. These improved techniques are further required to evaluate the CLA profile in monogastric animals fed commercial CLA preparations for CLA enrichment of animal products. This is particularly important because absorption and metabolism will alter the ingested-CLA profile in the animal fed.     

Separation characteristics of fatty acid methyl esters using SLB-IL111, a new ionic liquid coated capillary gas chromatographic column

The ionic liquid SLB-IL111 column, available from Supelco Inc., is a novel fused capillary gas chromatography (GC) column capable of providing enhanced separations of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) compared to the highly polar cyanopropyl siloxane columns currently recommended for the separation of cis- and trans isomers of fatty acids (FAs), and marketed as SP-2560 and CP-Sil 88. The SLB-IL111 column was operated isothermal at 168°C, with hydrogen as carrier gas at 1.0 mL/min, and the elution profile was characterized using authentic GC standards and synthetic mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers as test mixtures. The SLB-IL111 column provided an improved separation of cis- and trans-18:1 and cis/trans CLA isomers. This is the first direct GC separation of c9,t11- from t7,c9-CLA, and t15-18:1 from c9-18:1, both of which previously required complimentary techniques for their analysis using cyanopropyl siloxane columns. The SLB-IL111 column also provided partial resolution of t13/t14-18:1, c8- from c6/c7-18:1, and for several t,t-CLA isomer pairs. This column also provided elution profiles of the geometric and positional isomers of the 16:1, 20:1 and 18:3 FAMEs that were complementary to those obtained using the cyanopropyl siloxane columns. However, on the SLB-IL111 column the saturated FAs eluted between the cis- and trans MUFAs unlike cyanopropyl siloxane columns that gave a clear separation of most saturated FAs. These differences in elution pattern can be exploited to obtain a more complete analysis of complex lipid mixtures present in ruminant fats.     

Utilisation of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography as an alternative to silver-ion chromatography for the separation of cis- and trans-C18:1 fatty acid isomers

Silver ion-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been commonly used for the separation and the analysis of trans-18:1 isomers in partially hydrogenated oils and milk fat. This paper describes an easy HPLC method using two reversed-phase columns. The cis- and trans-18:1 fatty acids isomers as methyl esters were eluted as two separate fractions. The collected fractions were analysed by gas chromatography (GC). The purity of the two fractions were tested by GC-MS and GC-Fourier transform IR.     

Improved identification of conjugated linoleic acid isomers using silver-ion HPLC separations

Silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography (Ag+-HPLC) has been shown to be effective in the resolution of most of the isomers of conjugated octadecadienoic acids (18:2), also known as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The CLA isomers identified in natural fats from ruminants are a mixture of numerous positional and geometric isomers from 7,9- to 12,14-18:2. Ag+-HPLC separates both geometric (trans,trans < cis/trans < cis,cis) and positional CLA isomers using the mobile phase hexane/acetonitrile (99.9:0.1). The elution volumes for the CLA isomers were not only affected by the concentration of acetonitrile (in the prepared mobile phase) but also with successive runs during the day using a prepared mobile phase batch, due to the partial solubility of acetonitrile in hexane. However, this drift does not affect the relative resolution of the CLA isomers. The addition of diethyl ether to the mobile phase partly stabilizes the solvent mixture. In order to facilitate the interpretation of Ag-+HPLC chromatograms, the relative retention volumes (RRV) were calculated for each CLA isomer. Toluene was added to all the test portions and served as an estimator of dead volume, whereas the elution of the ubiquitous 9c,11t-CLA isomer was chosen as unity (1.00). Expressing the elution of all the CLA isomers as their RRV greatly helped to standardize each CLA isomer, resulting in relatively small coefficients of variation (% CV) for the trans,trans (<1.5%) and cis/trans (<0.5%) CLA isomers. The identification of the CLA isomers was further facilitated by synthesis of authentic CLA isomers. All the geometric CLA fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from positions 6,8- to 13,15-CLA were commercially available or synthesized by a combination of partial hydrazine reduction of known polyunsaturated fatty acids followed by alkali isomerization, isolation of products, and further iodine-catalyzed geometric isomerization. Based on expressing the elution volume as RRV and the availability of the synthetic CLA isomers, a unique reversal of the elution order of the c/t CLA isomers was found. It is also proposed that the retention times of CLA isomers by gas chromatography (GC) should be expressed as their relative retention times (RRT) relative to methyl gamma-linoleneate. The availability of CLA reference materials and the application of RRV and RRT to Ag+-HPLC and GC separations, respectively, will greatly improve in the identifications of CLA isomers.     

Analysis of conjugated linoleic acids as 9-anthrylmethyl esters by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A simple and highly sensitive method for determining the fatty acid composition of food lipids containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is described. The method is based on the separation of the 9-anthrylmethyl ester derivatives of saturated and unsaturated (conjugated and non-conjugated) fatty acids by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Just like the other fatty acids, CLA reacts readily with 9-anthryldiazomethane at room temperature to produce 9-anthrylmethyl esters without isomerization and decomposition of the conjugated double bonds. Clear resolution of the individual fatty acids as their 9-anthrylmethyl esters is achieved on a highly efficient octadecylsilylated silica column (150- x 3-mm i.d., 3-microm particle size) using a stepwise gradient elution with methanol-water. The method is standardized with commercially available CLA isomers (cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12-octadecadienoic acids, and their cis,cis and trans,trans isomers) and applied for determination of the fatty acid compositions of milk and sdairy products.     

Determination of trans octadecenoic acids by silver-ion chromatography-gas liquid chromatography: an intercomparison of methods

Several silver-ion chromatography-gas liquid chromatography (GLC) techniques for the determination of trans octadecenoic acids in partially hydrogenated vegetable fats were collaboratively evaluated. Twelve laboratories participated in the study. All collaborators used high polarity fused silica capillary columns for the separation of fatty acid methyl esters by GLC; 7 collaborators isolated trans monoenes by silver-ion liquid chromatography (Ag-LC) and the remainder used silver-ion thin-layer chromatography (Ag-TLC). Eight artificially prepared materials [soybean oil spiked with either methyl elaidate, trielaidin, or trans octadecenoates isolated from partially hydrogenated sunflower oil (PHSO)] and 2 matrix materials (PHSO and a blend of PHSO and palm oil) served as test samples. Ag-TLC and Ag-LC proved to be equivalent techniques for the prefractionation of trans monoenes. Recovery of methyl elaidate, trielaidin, or trans octadecenoates isolated from PHSO varied between 97.9-103.7% over a concentration range of 1 to 30 g trans fatty acids/100 g. Reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) for the spiked samples were in the range of 3.1-8.6% for 30-1% trans monoene content. For the 2 matrix samples (mean 3.75 and 19.08% trans monoene content) RSDR was 13.2 and 3.6%. The hyphenated techniques tested proved to be highly accurate and sufficiently precise methods for the determination of trans monoenes in partially hydrogenated vegetable fats. Procedural variations of the silver-ion chromatography prefractionation step (separation mode, mobile phase, and detection systems) did not significantly influence the results of the test. Therefore, silver-ion chromatography is a robust method, which does not need rigorous standardization to achieve high precision of test results. A further benefit of the hyphenated technique is that any type of efficient polar capillary column can be used.     

Temperature-sensitive resolution of cis- and trans-fatty acid isomers of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils on SP-2560 and CP-Sil 88 capillary columns

This study examines the effect of the column operating temperature of 100 m SP-2560 and CP-Sil 88 capillary gas chromatographic (GC) columns on the separation of cis- and trans-octadecenoic (18:1) isomers in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. The overlapping GC peaks were measured at column isothermal temperatures of 170, 175, 180, 185, and 190 degrees C. With both columns, isothermal operation at 180 degrees C produced the fewest overlapping peaks of the cis and trans isomers. At this temperature, all trans-18:1 isomers, except 13t-18:1 (t = trans), 14t-18:1, and 15t-18:1 isomers were resolved from the cis-18:1 isomers. The peaks of the 13t-18:1 and 14t-18:1 isomer pair, which always elute together, overlapped peaks of the 6c-18:1 (c = cis), 7c-18:1, and 8c-18:1 isomers; the peak of the 15t-18:1 isomer overlapped the major cis-18:1 peak, which was mainly due to 9c-18:1. Isothermal operations above or below 180 degrees C produced some additional overlapping problems. At 185 and 190 degrees C, the peaks of the 16t-18:1 and 13c-18:1 isomers overlapped. At 175 and 170 degrees C, the 16t-18:1 peak overlapped the 14c-18:1 peak, and the peaks of the 13t + 14t-18:1 isomer pair partially overlapped the major cis-18:1 peak. The separation of 11c-20:1 and alpha-linolenic acid and its geometric isomers was also affected by the column operating temperature. Isothermal operation of the SP-2560 column at 180 degrees C produced a baseline separation of 11c-20:1 and alpha-linolenic acid and its geometric isomers, whereas with the CP-Sil 88 column the best resolution was obtained at 170 degrees C. The results of this study show that the SP-2560 capillary column has a slight advantage over the CP-Sil 88 column for the simultaneous resolution of all the fatty acids generally found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.     

全二维气相色谱-四极杆质谱法检测植物油脂中脂肪酸

建立了植物油脂中31种脂肪酸成分的全二维气相色谱-四极杆质谱(GC×GC-qMS)分析方法。样品经甲酯化衍生后,以DB-1柱(30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm)作为一维柱、DB-Wax柱(3.2 m×0.1 mm×0.1 μm)作为二维柱组成柱系统进行分离,在调制周期为3.5 s、四极杆质量扫描范围为m/z 40～350的条件下,植物油脂中31种脂肪酸成分可以在50 min内得到准确和灵敏的检测。将本方法应用于实际样品的分析,灵敏度较传统的气相色谱-质谱法提高了100倍以上,一些植物油中微量的脂肪酸成分也因此被检出。该研究不仅为植物油中脂肪酸成分的分析提供了新的技术手段,同时对于确保食用植物油的质量安全、消除食用植物油的掺假伪劣等均有重要意义。     

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).     

Characterization of medieval proteinaceous painting media using gas chromatography and gas chromatography — mass spectrometry

Proteinaceous organic materials used as ancient painting media were investigated by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and capillary gas chromatography — mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Medieval wall paintings made by the tempera technique were considered and their binding media were studied by the characterization of their main chemical components. The basic methodology is based on the determination of amino acids in samples of paint layers after hydrolysis and derivatization and on the comparison with reference proteinaceous materials. Multivariate chemometric techniques were used to facilitate the recognition of the protein source from chromatographic data. To characterize the binders further, a method was developed for the determination of fatty acids, present as minor components, by GC/MS. The use of fused-silica capillary columns coated with selected stationary phases allowed the separation of amino acid and fatty acid derivatives in a single analytical run.     

Evaluation of new ionic liquids as high stability selective stationary phases in gas chromatography

Two ionic liquids (ILs), namely (S,S)-1-butyl-3-(2'-hydroxy-cyclohexyl)-3H-imidazol-1-ium tetrafluoroborate and (S,S)-1-butyl-3-(2'-acetyl-cyclohexyl)-3H-imidazol-1-ium tetrafluoroborate have been employed as stationary phases in capillary gas chromatography. These new phases exhibit a column efficiency of 1,600 and 2,100 plates m(-1) for IL 1 and IL 2, respectively, a wide operating temperature range and good thermal stability (bleeding temperature of 250 °C for IL 1 and 160 °C for IL 2). Inverse gas chromatography (GC) analyses were used to study the solvation properties of these ILs through a linear solvation energy model. The application of these ILs as new GC stationary phases was studied. These stationary phases exhibited unique selectivity for many organic substances, such as alkanes, ketones, esters, and aromatic compounds. The efficient separation of several mixtures containing compounds of different polarities and the good separation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and cis/trans isomers indicate that these ILs may be applicable as a new type of GC stationary phases.     

Quantification of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid geometrical isomers formed during fish oil deodorization by gas-liquid chromatography

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) of the n-3 series and especially eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA, respectively) have important biological properties. The main dietary sources of LC-PUFAs are fish and fish oil. Geometrical isomerization is one of the main reactions happening during the thermal treatment of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Refined fish oils are used to supplement food products in LC-PUFAs and the quality of these nutritional ingredients have to be controlled. In the present study, a suitable method for the quantification of EPA and DHA geometrical isomers in fish oils by gas-liquid chromatography (GC) is presented. A highly polar capillary column (CP-Sil 88, 100 m) operating under optimal conditions was used. Method selectivity was studied by GC-mass spectrometry. The performance characteristics of the quantification method were studied using samples of fish oil deodorized at 220 degrees C for 3 h. The linearity of the method was assessed by analyzing composite samples obtained by mixing fish oil deodorized at 220 degrees C with semi-refined fish oil (control). Precision was evaluated by analyzing the same samples in triplicate. Results showed that the validated method is suitable to quantify low amounts of geometrical (trans) isomers of EPA and DHA in refined fish oils. The limits of quantification of the EPA and DHA geometrical isomers are 0.16 and 0.56 g/100 g of fish oil, for EPA and DHA, respectively. Commercially available LC-PUFA oil samples were evaluated by using the validated method. The results show that the oils analyzed contain low amounts (<1% of total fatty acids) of geometrical isomers of EPA and DHA.     

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.     

Liquid crystal stationary phases for gas chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography

Novel monomeric and polymeric liquid crystalline compounds were synthesized as stationary phases for gas chromatography (GC) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Monomeric liquid crystalline compounds were used in packed column gas chromatography for the separation of isomeric aromatic compounds and insect sex pheromones. Liquid crystalline polymers possess long nematic ranges and a uniform coating was easily achieved in glass and fused silica capillaries, which could stand temperatures up to 250°C in GC and pressures of 200 MPa at 160°C in SFC. The columns provide excellent selectivity and resolution for fused ring aromatic compounds such as the isomers anthracene and phenanthrene or triphenylene and chrysene.     

Gas chromatography and silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of conjugated linoleic acid isomers in free fatty acid form using sulphuric acid in methanol as catalyst

This study used GC and silver-ion HPLC to examine the effects of temperature and time on methylation of individual and mixtures of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers in free fatty acid form using sulphuric acid as catalyst. In the conditions tested (temperatures between 20 and 50 degrees C and times between 10 and 60min) methylation was complete while avoiding isomerization of conjugated dienes and the formation of artefacts that could interfere with chromatographic determinations. An analytical method using solvent extraction of the lipids followed by selective elution of the free fatty acids from aminopropyl bonded phase columns and methylation with H(2)SO(4) in mild conditions was then applied to determine the CLA isomers in free fatty acid form in rumen fluid, and the results were evaluated.     

Evaluation of New Stationary Phases for the Separation of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters

In the analysis of fatty acids, one of the most commonly used tools is a GC separation of the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Many researchers perform this separation using a non-polar phase such the ubiquitous 5% phenyl / 95% methyl capillary columns found in most every chromatography laboratory. Numerous laboratories have also turned recently to polar phases such as 70% cyanopropyl columns, as this type of chemistry provides increased selectivity for unsaturated compounds, and thus improved separation of cis/trans and ω³/ω⁶ FAME isomers. Here, a series of columns nominally having 60, 70, 80, and 90% bis-cyanopropyl content have been tested for the separation of FAME isomers. Trends in retention and the influence of increasing phase polarity on effective and fractional chain lengths are highlighted to provide the FAME chromatographer with insight into which of these novel stationary phases might be best suited to their particular application. In addition, the elution temperatures (T_e) of the FAME and linear alkane standards are presented, as this information will be of value to comprehensive two-dimensional multidimensional GC (GC × GC) users who wish to use these columns in the primary dimension separation.     

HPLC-separation of cis and trans monounsaturated fatty acids

Summary The chromatography of monounsaturated fatty acids as their methyl esters on silver nitrate-loaded HPLC-columns has been studied. The separation of cis- and trans-isomers was easily achieved even with columns of low performance. High-performance small-particle-columns treated with silver nitrate separated a large variety of monounsaturated cis and trans positional isomers. The influence of variable silver-loads on the selectivity of the system was studied and a survey of the distribution of positional trans C₁₈₁ isomers in commercial margarines is given.     

银离子固相萃取-气相色谱法检测乳脂肪中的反式脂肪酸

建立了分离反式油酸(C18:1)、亚油酸(C18:2)、亚麻酸(C18:3)的银离子固相萃取-气相色谱(Ag+-SPE/GC)方法,并应用于乳脂肪中反式脂肪酸的检测。采用自制的银离子固相萃取柱对样品进行预分离,总脂肪酸甲酯化后上样,依次经9 mL甲苯-正己烷(体积比5:95)、8 mL甲苯-正己烷(体积比17:83)、6 mL甲苯-乙酸乙酯(体积比17:83)、10 mL甲苯-乙酸乙酯(体积比30:70)洗脱并分别收集洗脱液,采用气相色谱分别进行检测。结果显示,除了反式亚麻酸的回收率为69.9%～101.0%、相对标准偏差(RSD)为11.0%～18.1%外,其余的反式脂肪酸的回收率均为88.4%～107.2%、RSD为1.2%～11.9%。该方法通过特异性固相萃取的方法对样品进行前处理,较好地避免了样品中顺式及饱和脂肪酸对反式脂肪酸检测的干扰。     

Characterization of fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition in animal fats using silver-ion and non-aqueous reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/flame ionization detection

Fatty acid (FA) and triacylglycerol (TG) composition of natural oils and fats intake in the diet has a strong influence on the human health and chronic diseases. In this work, non-aqueous reversed-phase (NARP) and silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry detection and gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (GC/FID) and mass spectrometry detection are used for the characterization of FA and TG composition in complex samples of animal fats from fallow deer, red deer, sheep, moufflon, wild boar, cock, duck and rabbit. The FA composition of samples is determined based on the GC/FID analysis of FA methyl esters. In total, 81 FAs of different acyl chain length, double bond (DB) number, branched/linear, cis-/trans- and DB positional isomers are identified. TGs in animal fats contain mainly monounsaturated and saturated FAs. High amounts of branched and trans-FAs are observed in the samples of ruminants. In NARP mode, individual TG species are separated including the separation of trans- and branched TGs. Silver-ion mode provides the separation of TG regioisomers, which enables the determination of their ratios. Great differences in the preference of unsaturated and saturated FAs in the sn-2 position on the glycerol skeleton are observed among individual animal fats. Unsaturated FAs are preferentially occupied in the sn-2 position in all animal samples except for wild boar with the strong preference of saturated FAs in the sn-2 position.