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Simultaneous quantification of free fatty acids, free sterols, squalene, and acylglycerol molecular species in palm oil by high-temperature gas chromatography-flame ionization detection

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Lipids

Abstract

This paper discusses a rapid GC-FID technique for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of FFA, MAG, DAG, TAG, sterols, and squalene in vegetable oils, with special reference to palm oil. The FFA content determined had a lower SE compared with a conventional titrimetric method. Squalene and individual sterols, consisting of β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, and cholesterol, were accurately quantified without any losses. This was achieved through elimination of tedious conventional sample pretreatments, such as saponification and preparative TLC. With this technique, the separation of individual MAG, consisting of 16∶0, 18∶0, and 18∶1 FA, and the DAG species, consisting of the 1,2(2,3)- and 1,3-positions, was sufficient to enable their quantification. This technique enabled the TAG to be determined according to their carbon numbers in the range of C44 to C56. Comparisons were made with conventional methods, and the results were in good agreement with those reported in the literature.

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Abbreviations

BSTFA:

N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide with 1% trimethylchlorosilane

CPO:

crude palm oil

MPOB:

Malaysian Palm Oil Board

PORIM:

Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia

SFC:

supercritical fluid chromatography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Harrison Lik Nang Lau, Chiew Wei Puah & Cheng Hock Chuah

  2. Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No. 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Harrison Lik Nang Lau, Chiew Wei Puah, Yuen May Choo & Ah Ngan Ma

Authors
  1. Harrison Lik Nang Lau
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  2. Chiew Wei Puah
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  3. Yuen May Choo
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  4. Ah Ngan Ma
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  5. Cheng Hock Chuah
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Correspondence to Yuen May Choo.

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Nang Lau, H.L., Puah, C.W., Choo, Y.M. et al. Simultaneous quantification of free fatty acids, free sterols, squalene, and acylglycerol molecular species in palm oil by high-temperature gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. Lipids 40, 523–528 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-005-1413-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-005-1413-1

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