Analysis of tocopherols and phytosterols in vegetable oils by HPLC with evaporative light‐scattering detection

Abstract

Methods were developed for the separation, detection, and quantification of tocopherols and phytosterols by high‐performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light‐scattering detector. Four tocopherols— α, β, γ and δ—and four phytosterols—campesterol, β‐sitosterol, brassicasterol, and stigmasterol—were analyzed in soybean, sunflower, low‐erucic acid rapeseed (LEAR) and corn oils. The use of an evaporative light‐scattering detector, in conjunction with modification of methods from the literature to prepare and analyze tocopherols and phytosterols by HPLC, showed consistent results between trials and levels of these minor constituents.