Gas‐liquid chromatographic analysis of monoglycerides as their trimethylsilyl ether derivatives

Abstract

Abstract A quantitative method is described for the rapid gas‐liquid chromatographic analysis of monoglycerides of long chain fatty acids as their trimethylsilyl (TMS) ether derivatives. The TMS derivatives are formed rapidly and quantitatively at room temp without isomerization. The TMS derivatives of 1‐ and 2‐monoglycerides may be separated on polyester columns, which can also be used for the analysis of methyl esters. A mixture of the 1‐ and 2‐isomers of monopalmitin and monoolein was quantitatively analyzed. A mixture of monocaprin, monolaurin, monomyristin, monopalmitin and monosterin was also analyzed. A mixture of 1‐monostearin, 1‐monoolein and 1‐monolinolein was also resolved. The analyses were carried out on packed and large bore capillary columns of diethylene glycol succinate polyester (DEGS) and Apiezon L. Capillary columns that required the use of a splitter were nonquantitative, resulting from what appeared to be fractionation at the splitter. Acid conditions, including those provoked by the use of phosphoric acid stabilized polyesters, cleaved the TMS derivatives to yield the original hydroxy compound.