Analysis of triacylglycerol positional isomers by silver ion high performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

Abstract Silver ion chromatography, utilizing two commercially available HPLC columns connected in series, was used to separate a variety of triacylglycerol positional isomers. The isomers had a fatty acid composition of ABA and AAB, where A and B were fatty acids containing zero to three double bonds. Isocratic solvent systems of 0.5% to 1.0% acetonitrile in hexane were used to separate the triacylglycerol isomers. This methodology can be used to rapidly determine the isomeric purity of synthesized or isolated triacylglycerols and to isolate specific positional isomers.