GAS–LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHIC FRACTIONATION OF NATURAL TRIGLYCERIDE MIXTURES BY CARBON NUMBER

Abstract

Synthetic and naturally occurring triglyceride mixtures have been successfully separated according to their carbon number by gas–liquid chromatography on stainless steel columns (18 in. × 1/8 in. diameter) packed with 60–80 mesh Chromosorb W coated with 2.25% (w/w) SE-30. Complete and apparently quantitative separations of the simple triglycerides from trioctanoin to tristearin were achieved within 40 minutes in the temperature range of 200 to 320 °C. Under the working conditions (temperature programming), the columns had a theoretical plate number of 3500 to 5000 when calculated for tristearin. Although losses of the higher molecular weight triglycerides were occasionally encountered because of incomplete volatilization, there was no evidence of a fragmentation of the triglyceride molecules at the moment of volatilization (325 °C).