Analysis of Triglyceride Methanolysis Mixtures Using Isocratic HPLC With Density Detection

Abstract
A simple and reliable method is described, which allows the determination of the overall content of tri-, di-, and monoglycerides in fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by isocratic liquid chromatography using a density detector. The separation is achieved by coupling a cyano-modified silica column with two GPC-columns; chloroform with an ethanol content of 0.6% is used as an eluent. The response factors were determined experimentally for the pure triglycerides and methyl esters of various fatty acids as well as for the di- and monoglyceride of palmitic acid and calculated for the mixed products obtained in the methanolysis of vegetable oils. The performance of the method is demonstrated in the analysis of methanolysis mixtures of varying conversion.