Rapid transesterification and mass spectrometric approach to seed oil analysis

Abstract

Abstract Fatty acid composition of seed oil is determined in less than one hr using a quantitative one‐vial technique. The method of analysis requires alcoholic solutions of sodium methoxide mild enough for epoxy and polyunsaturated oils. Separation and characterization of component fatty acids were accomplished by high resolution gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Using this method, Vernonia galamensis seed oil is shown to contain 79–80% vernolic ( cis ‐12,13‐epoxy‐ cis ‐9‐octadecenoic) acid. Amaranthus cruentus , a West African vegetable crop, is shown to contain 17.3% palmitic acid, 3.2% stearic acid, 22.7% oleic acid, 54.7% linoleic acid and 2.1% linolenic acid.