The Specific Distribution of Fatty Acids in the Glycerides of Vegetable Fats

Abstract

silicone as the liquid phase. The run was continued long enough so that any fatty acid having a retention volume less than that of a 30-carbon saturated fatty acid would be detected. The actual quantitative determination was made with the run continuing for sufficient time to detect all the fatty acids which were shown to be present by the preliminary analysis. Because these analyses were made over a period of several months, there was some variation in the conditions under which the chromatographic columns were operated. The preferred conditions, and those generally used, were: liquid phase, 12 weight y0 of ethylene glycol adipate polyester on 60 to 80 mesh, acid-washed and neutralized Chromosorb W; column length, 200 cm; temperature, 200”; He flow rate, 50 ml per minute, standard temperature and pressure; sample size, 0.5 to 5 ~1. A comparison of the retention volumes of the unknowns with those of suitable standards and the fatty acid compositions already reported for these fats (3,7) formed the bases for assigning identification to the individual fatty acids. None of the fats studied are reported to contain unusual fatty acids. Consequently, the identity assigned to the acids is probably correct. Fatty acids that constitute less than 1% of the total are not reported because of the large relative error in such values. Therefore, the sum of the individual acids of many of the fats is not lOO$$.