ANALYSIS OF VEGETABLE OIL TRANSESTERIFICATION PRODUCTS BY GEL PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract

A method for simultaneous analysis of transesterification reaction products — triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, methyl esters, and glycerol — was developed using gel permeation chromatography. Two Phenogel columns are coupled in series to a refractive index detector, and tetrahydrofuran is used as the mobile phase. Sample preparation involves only dilution and neutralization. The column was calibrated with standard solutions of the compounds. Reproducibility of the method was good: analysis of palm oil transesterification products at different levels of conversion showed a relative standard deviation of 0.27% – 3.87%