Comparison of attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy to capillary gas chromatography for trans fatty acid determination

Gas chromatography (GC) has been a standard analytical tool in lipid chemistry. The rapid attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared (IR) American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Recommended Practice (Cd 14d-97) was compared to the capillary GC AOCS Recommended Practice (Ce 1f-97) that was optimized to accurately determine total trans fatty acids on highly polar stationary phases. This comparative evaluation was validated in an independent laboratory. These procedures were used to quantitate the total trans fatty acid levels in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, measured as neat (without solvent) triacylglycerols (TAG) by ATR and as fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) derivatives by capillary GC. Unlike FAME, TAG determination by ATR required no derivatization, but samples had to be melted prior to measurement. Five blind replicates for each of three accuracy standards and three test samples were analyzed by each technique. The GC and ATR determinations were in good agreement. Accuracy was generally high. The ratios of ATR mean trans values (reported as percentage of total TAG) to the true values (based on the amount of trielaidin added gravimetrically) were 0.89, 0.98, and 1.02 for accuracy standards having about 1, 10, and 40% trans levels. The corresponding GC values, determined as percentage of total FAME, were 0.98, 0.99 and 1.04. The ratios of mean trans values determined by these techniques were ATR/GC 0.85, 1.04, and 1.01 for test samples having trans levels of about 0.7, 8, and 38%, respectively. The optimized GC procedure also minimzed the expected low bias in trans values due to GC peak overlap found with the GC Official Method Ce 1c-89. Satisfactory repeatability and reproducibility were obtained by both ATR and GC.     

Rapid determination of the totaltrans content of neat hydrogenated oils by attenuated total reflection spectroscopy

A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy procedure is described for quantitating the levels of totalrans triglycerides or their fatty acid methyl ester derivatives in neat fats and oils. It requires either warming or no preparation of the laboratory sample, and about 5 min for spectroscopic measurement, band area integration, and calculation of thetrans content from a linear regression equation. To eliminate the strongly sloping background of the 966-cm⁻¹ trans band, the single-beam spectrum of thetrans-containing fat is “ratioed” against that of an unhydrogenated oil or a reference material that contains onlycis double bonds. Thus, a symmetric absorption band on a horizontal background is obtained. The area under thetrans band can then be accurately integrated between the same limits, 990 and 945 cm⁻¹, for alltrans levels investigated. To speed up the analysis, an attenuated total reflection liquid cell was used, into which oils, melted fats or their methyl esters were poured without weighing or quantitative dilution with the toxic and volatile carbon disulfide solvent. Thetrans levels determined by attenuated total reflection were closer to those found by capillary gas chromatography when the hydrogenated fat was measured against the corresponding unhydrogenated oil than when it was measured against acis reference material. Small differences were found betweentrans levels in hydrogenated fat test samples and the corresponding methyl ester derivatives (9.3 and 2.2% at about 2 and 41%trans, respectively). The lower limits of identification and quantitation were 0.2 and 1%, respectively.     

trans-Polyunsaturated fatty acids in French edible rapeseed and soybean oils

The fatty acid compositions of rapeseed and soybean oils marketed in France have been determined by gas liquid chromatography on a fused-silica capillary column coated with a 100% cyanopropyl polysiloxane stationary phase. Under the operating conditions employed, methyl esters of linolenic acid geometrical isomers could be separated and quantitated easily without any other complementary technique. With only one exception, all samples under study (eight salad oils and five food samples) contain geometrical isomers of linolenic acid in measurable, although variable, amounts. Totaltrans-18:3 acids may account for up to 3% of total fatty acids. This value corresponds to a degree of isomerization (percentage oftrans isomers relative to total octadecatrienoic acids) of 30%. Examination of our data indicates that the distribution pattern of linolenic acid geometrical isomers does not depend on the degree of isomerization. The two main isomers always have thec,c,t and thet,c,c configurations. These isomers occur in the almost invariable relative proportions of 47.8±1.7% and 41.1±1.0%, respectively. The third mono-trans isomer is present in lower amounts−6.5±0.7%. The only di-trans isomer that can be quantitated with sufficient accuracy is thet,c,t isomer (4.9±1.5%). Mono-trans isomers of linoleic acid are also present in these oils. However, their maximum percentages are lower than those determined for linolenic acid geometrical isomers. In the oils showing the highest degrees of isomerization,trans isomers of linoleic acid account for 0.5% (rapeseed oils) and 1% (soybean oils) of total fatty acids. Taking into account all data, it would appear that the probability of isomerization of linolenic acid is about 13–14 times that of linoleic acid.     

Synthesis of fatty acid esters from acid oils using lipase B from Candida antarctica

Esterification of corn and sunflower acid oils with straight‐ and branched‐chain alcohols were conducted using lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) in n‐hexane. Sunflower acid oil consisted of 55.6% free fatty acids and 24.7% triacylglycerols, while the free fatty acids and triacylglycerols contents of corn acid oil were 75.3% and 8.6%, respectively. After 1.5 h of methanolysis of sunflower acid oil, the highest fatty acid methyl ester content (63.6%) was obtained at 40 °C and the total fatty acid/methanol molar ratio was 1/1, using 15% enzyme based on acid oil weight. The conversion of both acid oils with straight‐ and branched‐chain alcohols was not significantly affected by the chain length of the alcohols. However, the lowest fatty acid methyl ester content (50%) was obtained in the reaction of corn acid oil with methanol. Sunflower acid oil was converted to fatty acid esters using primer alcohols such as n‐propanol, i‐ and n‐butanol, n‐amylalcohols, n‐octanol, and a mixture of amylalcohol isomers, resulting in a fatty acid ester content of about 70% at 40 °C.     

Hydrolysis of fish oils containing polymers of triacylglycerols by pancreatic lipasein vitro

Fish oils containing different levels of polymers of triacylglycerols formed during autoxidation were incubated with pancreatic lipase to establish whether these polymers are substrates for lipase hydrolysis. With oils containing low amounts (less than 4%) of triacylglycerol polymers as substrates, both triacylglycerols and polymers of triacylglycerols were almost completely hydrolyzed, and fatty acid monomers and monoacylglycerols were the major lipid products. Under the same incubation conditions, some triacylglycerols remained intact when highly oxidized oils containing 20 or 30% triacylglycerol polymers were the substrate. The fatty acid composition of these residual triacylglycerols was almost identical to that of triacylglycerols present at the start of the assay. When fish oil containing 30% triacylglycerol polymers was incubated with the lipase, the component triacylglycerols and polymers of triacylglycerols were hydrolyzed at similar rates, and fatty acid dimers were detected as a product. It is concluded that the high molecular weight polymers of triacylglycerols present in oxidized fish oils can be hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipasein vitro.     

Preparative Separation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-Isomers of Unsaturated Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Contained in Edible Oils by Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

In order to measure exactly the trans-fatty acids content in food materials, a preparative group separation of cis- and trans-isomers of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) was achieved by an isocratic reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) method. The trans-isomers of 16:1, 18:1, 18:2, 18:3, 20:1 and 22:1 FAMEs were readily separated from the corresponding cis-isomers by a COSMOSIL Cholester C18 column (4.6 mm I.D. × 250 mm, Nacalai Tesque) or a TSKgel ODS-100Z column (4.6 mm I.D. × 250 mm, TOSOH), using acetonitrile as the mobile phase. This method was applied for determining the trans-18:1 fatty acid content in partially hydrogenated rapeseed oil. The methyl esters of cis- and trans-18:1 isomers of the oil were collected as two separate fractions by the developed RP-HPLC method. Each fraction was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) for both qualitative and quantitative information on its positional isomers. By a combination of RP-HPLC and GC methods, a nearly complete separation of cis- and trans-18:1 positional isomers was achieved and the trans-18:1 fatty acid content was able to be evaluated more precisely than is possible by the direct GC method. The reproducibility of cis- and trans-18:1 isomers fractionated by the RP-HPLC method was better than 98%. These results suggested that the preparative RP-HPLC method developed in this study could be a powerful tool for trans-fatty acid analysis in edible oils and food products as an alternative to silver-ion chromatography.     

Determination ofcis andtrans-Octadecenoic acids in margarines by gas liquid chromatography-infrared spectrophotometry

A combined capillary gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and infrared spectrophotometry (IR) method is described for the determination ofcis andtrans-octadecenoic acids in margarines made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. The totaltrans-unsaturation of margarine fatty acid methyl esters determined by IR, with methyl elaidate as the external standard, was correlated to the capillary GLC weight percentages of the componenttrans fatty acid methyl esters by the mathematical formula: IRtrans=%18∶1t+0.84×%18.2t+1.74×%18∶2tt+ 0.84×%18∶3t where 0.84, 1.74 and 0.84 are the correction factors which relate the GLC weight percentages to the IRtrans-equivalents for mono-trans-octadecadienoic (18∶2t),trans, trans-octadecadienoic (18∶2tt) and mono-trans-octadecatrienoic (18∶3t) acids, respectively. This formula forms the basis for the determination of totaltrans-andcis-octadecenoic acids in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. From the weight percentages of 18∶2t, 18∶2tt and 18∶3t determined by capillary GLC on a cyanosilicone liquid phase and the totaltrans-unsaturation by IR, the percentage of the totaltrans-octadecenoic acids (18∶1t) is calculated using the formula. The difference between the total octadecenoic acids (18∶1), determined by capillary GLC, and the 18∶1t gives the totalcis-octadecenoic acids. Presented in part at the 81st Annual Meeting of the American Oil Chemists' Society, Baltimore, Maryland, April 22–25, 1990.     

Gradients of n-heptane and acetonitrile in silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography analyses of cis and trans bonds in lipids

Cis and trans isomers of fatty acid methyl esters, fatty alcohols, and triacylglycerols were analyzed with a silverion high-performance liquid chromatography system. Gradients of n-heptane and acetonitrile were used to elute molecules with up to nine cis double bonds. The analyses were as fast and reliable and had a resolution similar to that of the best published analyses. However, published analyses were performed with chlorinated solvents, and these solvents are carcinogenic and mutagenic. The solvents we used, heptane and acetonitrile, are less dangerous to the analyst.     

Determination of low level trans unsaturation in physically refined vegetable oils by capillary GLC — Results of 3 intercomparison studies

The analytical performance of capillary gas‐liquid chromatographic (GLC) methods for the quantitative determination of trans fatty acids (TFA) in physically refined rapeseed and soybean oils was evaluated by 3 intercomparison studies. The participants were allowed to use their own methodology regarding derivatization and GLC conditions and were not requested to follow a fixed method protocol. However, certain requirements relating to the separation efficiency (chromatographic separation of critical pairs) and the accuracy (validation of the response factors using a certified reference material) of the method(s) applied, had to be fulfilled. All 12 participating laboratories employed fused silica capillary columns coated with cyanopropyl polysiloxane for the separation of fatty acid methyl esters. Analytical precision was sufficient (relative standard deviation for reproducibility 13%) for the quantification of trans isomers occurring at levels >0.1 g/100 g in physically refined vegetable oils, i.e. trans isomers of linolenic acid. For TFA levels <0.1 g/100 g (trans isomers of oleic and linoleic acid) precision dropped sharply (relative standard deviation for reproducibility >30%).     

Preparation of malvalic and sterculic acid methyl esters from Bombax munguba and Sterculia foetida seed oils

A method has been developed for the preparation of highly pure malvalic (cis-8,9-methyleneheptadec-8-enoic) and sterculic (cis-9,10-methyleneoctadec-9-enoic) acid methyl esters starting from Bombax munguba and Sterculia foetida seed oils. The methyl esters of these oils were prepared by sodium methylate-catalyzed transmethylation followed by cooling (6°C) the hexane solution of crude methyl esters and separation of insoluble fatty acid methyl esters by centrifugation in the case of B. munguba and by column chromatography in the case of S. foetida. Subsequently, the saturated straight-chain fatty acid methyl esters were almost quantitatively removed by urea adduct formation. Finally, methyl malvalate and methyl sterculate were separated from the remaining unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters, in particular methyl oleate and methyl linoleate, by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography on C₁₈ reversed-phase using acetonitrile isocratically. Methyl malvalate and methyl sterculate were obtained with purities of 95–97 and 95–98%, respectively.     

High-performance liquid chromatography of the triacylglycerols ofVernonia galamensis andCrepis alpina seed oils

The triacylglycerols ofVernonia galamensis andCrepis alpina seed oils were characterized because these oils have high concentrations of vernolic (cis-12,13-epoxy-cis-9-octadecenoic) and crepenynic (cis-9-octadecen-12-ynoic) acids, respectively. The triacylglycerols were separated from other components of crude oils by solid-phase extraction, followed by resolution and quantitation of the individual triacylglycerols by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with an acetonitrile/methylene chloride gradient and flame-ionization detection. Isolated triacylglycerols were characterized by proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance and by capillary gas chromatography of their fatty acid methyl esters. The locations of the fatty acids on the glycerol moieties in the oils were obtained by lipolysis. TheVernonia galamensis oil contained 50% trivernoloyl and 21% divernoloyllinoleoyl glycerols along with 20% triacylglycerols with one vernolic and two other fatty acids. TheCrepis alpina oil contained 36% tricrepenynoyl and 33% dicrepenynoyllinoleoyl glycerols, 17% triacylglycerols with two crepenynic and one other fatty acid and 7% triacylglycerols with one crepenynic acid and two other fatty acids. Vernolic acid was found at both the 1(3)- and 2-glycerol carbons but was more abundant at the 1,(3)-position in theVernonia galamensis oil. Crepenynic acid was found at both glycerol carbon positions but was more abundant at the 2-position in theCrepis alpina oil. Visiting scientist from Technical Research Institute, Snow Brand Milk Company, Ltd., Saitana, Japan.     

Additive effects of acyl-binding site mutations on the fatty acid selectivity of Rhizopus delemar lipase

The fatty acid specificity and pH dependence of triacylglycerol hydrolysis by the Rhizopus delemar lipase acylbinding site mutant Val206Thr+Phe95Asp (Val, valine; Thr, threonine; Phe, phenylalanine; Asp, aspartic acid) were characterized. The activity of the double mutant prolipase was reduced by as much as 10-fold, compared to the wild-type prolipase. However, the fatty acid specificity profile of the enzyme was markedly sharpened and was dependent on the pH of the substrate emulsion. At neutral pH, strong preference (10-fold or greater) for hydrolysis of triacylglycerols of medium-chainlength fatty acids (C_8:0 to C_14:0) was displayed by the variant prolipase, with no hydrolysis of triacylglycerols of short-chain fatty acids (C_4:0 to C_6:0) and little activity manifested toward fatty acids with 16 or more carbons. At acidic pH values, the fatty acid selectivity profile of the double mutant prolipase expanded to include short-chain triacylglycerols (C_4:0, C_6:0). When assayed against a triacylglycerol mixture of tributyrin, tricaprylin and triolein, the Val206Thr+Phe95Asp prolipase displayed a high selectivity for caprylic acid and released this fatty acid at least 25-fold more efficiently than the others present in the substrate mixture. When presented a mixture of nine fatty acid methyl esters, the wild-type prolipase showed a broad substrate specificity profile, hydrolyzing the various methyl esters to a similar extent. Contrastingly, the double mutant prolipase displayed a narrowed substrate specificity profile, hydrolyzing caprylic methyl ester at nearly wild-type levels, while its activity against the other methyl esters examined was 2.5- to 5-fold lower then that observed for the wild-type enzyme.     

Regioselective analysis of triacylglycerols by lipase hydrolysis

A modified procedure for the regiospecific analysis of triacylglycerols (TAG) with a 1,3-specific lipase is described. After partial lipase hydrolysis of the triacylglycerol, the released free fatty acids (FFA) and 1,2(2,3)-diacylglycerols (DAG) were isolated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and converted to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). The FAME were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). The 1,3-specific lipases used in this study included supported preparations from strains ofMucor miehei andRhizopus oryzae. The method also was applied to the regiospecific analyses of tung nut and Chinese melon seed oil triacyglycerols, both of which contain high proportions of α-elaeostearic acid. The TAG composition of the oils was substantiated in parallel analysis of the oils by highperformance liquid chromatography with chemical ionization mass spectrometric detection of intact TAG.     

Triacylglycerols of winter butterfat containing configurational isomers of monoenoic fatty acyl residues. I. Disaturated monoenoic triacylglycerols

The triacylglycerols of winter butterfat were fractionated according to the type and degree of unsaturation into six fractions by silver ion high-performance liquid chromatography (Ag-HPLC). The acyl carbon number distribution of the triacylglycerols in each fraction was elucidated by reversed-phase HPLC and mass spectrometry (MS). The MS analysis of each fraction gave deprotonated triacylglycerol [M - H]⁻ ions which were produced by chemical ionization with ammonia. The daughter spectrum of each of the [M - H]⁻ ions provided information on its fatty acid constituents. Successful fractionation of triacylglycerols differing in the configuration of one fatty acyl residue by Ag-HPLC was important because geometrical isomers could not be distinguished by the MS system used. In addition to the fatty acid compositions, reversed-phase HPLC analysis demonstrated the purity of the collected fractions: molecules having acis-trans difference were separated nearly to the baseline. Triacylglycerols differing in the configuration of one fatty acyl residue were not equally distributed in relation to their acyl carbon numbers. This indicates that during the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols,cis- andtrans-fatty acids are processed differently. Although the fatty acid compositions of the corresponding molecular weight species of disaturatedtrans- and disaturatedcis-monoenoic triacylglycerols were similar, there may be differences in the amounts of different fatty acid combinations or in the distribution of fatty acids between the primary and secondary glycerol positions. In addition to the main components, it was possible to analyze minor triacylglycerols, such as molecules containing one odd-chain fatty acid, by the MS system used.     

Positional analysis of triacylglycerols from bovine adipose tissue lipids varying in degree of unsaturation

The objective of this study was to demonstrate that changing the fatty acid composition of bovine adipose tissue concurrently changed (i) proportions of triacylglycerol species, (ii) fatty acid composition of triacylglycerol species, and (iii) positional distribution of the component fatty acids of the triacylglycerol species. To achieve this, we took advantage of adipose tissue lipids, from cattle fed in Australia and Japan, that varied widely in fatty acid composition and melting points. Treatment groups produced in Australia were cattle fed: a cornbased diet (MUFA1); a grain-based diet containing whole cottonseed (SFA); a grain-based diet containing protected cottonseed oil (PUFA); and a grain-based diet that resulted in high contents of trans fatty acids (TFA). Treatment groups produced in Japan (MUFA2 and MUFA3) were diets of unknown composition fed for over 300 d. The MUFA1, MUFA2, and MUFA3 samples all were rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, varying only in the proportions of the individual monounsaturates. The SFA, PUFA, and TFA samples had relatively high concentrations of stearic acid (18:0), PUFA, and TFA, respectively. Slip points (indicative of melting points) were 45.1, 41.5, 38.5, 30.7, 28.4, and 22.8°C, for the SFA, TFA, PUFA, MUFA1, MUFA2, and MUFA3 groups, respectively (P<0.05). Triacylglycerols were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on a silver nitrate-impregnated column into sn-1,2,3-saturated fatty acid triacylglycerol (SSS); [triacylglycerols containing two saturated acids and one trans-monounsaturated fatty acid (SSMt sn-positions unknown)]; sn-1-saturated, 2-monounsaturated, 3-saturated triacylglycerol (SMS); sn-1-saturated, 2-monounsaturated, 3-trans-monounsaturated triacylglycerol (SMMt); sn-1-saturated, 2,3-monounsaturated fatty acid triacylglycerol (SMM); sn-1-saturated, 2-polyunsaturated, 3-trans-monounsaturated triacylglycerol; sn-1,2,3-monounsaturated fatty acid triacylglycerol (MMM); and sn-1-saturated, 2-polyunsaturated, 3-monounsaturated triacylglycerol. Fatty acid methyl esters of each triacylglycerol species also were determined, and further analysis indicated sn-2, and sn-1/3 positions. As the percentage oleic acid increased in the total lipid extract, the proportions of SMM and MMM increased (e.g., from 31.4 and 2.4% in the SFA group to 55.4 and 17.8% in the MUFA3 group). The elevated 18:0 in the SFA group (26%) was reflected in increased percentages of SSS and SSM, and caused an increase in the proportion of 18:0 in all triacylglycerol species relative to the other treatment groups. The percentage of 18:0 in the sn-1/3 positions was elevated markedly in the SMS fraction of the SFA group (to 44%); this would account for the high melting point of the fat of these animals. We conclude that long-term feeding of cattle is sufficient to produce significant alterations in fatty acid composition in bovine adipose tissue. Alterations in the fatty acid composition of bovine adipose tissue changed both the distribution and the composition of the triacylglycerol species, which, in turn, accounted for marked differences in melting points among treatment groups.     

The positional and fatty acid selectivity of oat seed lipase in aqueous emulsions

The positional and fatty acid selectivities of oat (Avena sativa L.) seed lipase (triacylglycerol hydrolase EC 3.1.1.3) were examined. Pure triacylglycerols were used as substrates. The products of lipolysis were examined by thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography. Only symmetrical triacylglycerols were used as substrates; thus potential complications arising from stereobias were avoided. Controls were carried out with a lipase specific for primary positions. The lipase from oat seeds catalyzed the hydrolysis of both primary and secondary esters. When the lipase was tested upon mixtures of homoacid triacylglycerols (triacylglycerols composed of the same three fatty acids), the lipase acted most rapidly upon those containing oleate, elaidate, linoleate and linolenate. Strong intermolecular selectivity against homoacid triacylglycerols containing palmitate, petroselinate and stearate was observed. Comparison of assays performed at 26°C with those performed at 45°C showed that selectivity was temperature-independent. When mixed-acid triacylglycerols containing both oleate and stearate were treated with lipase, intramolecular selectivity was observed, with oleate hydrolysis predominating. From this work and earlier work, it can be concluded that the selectivity exhibited by the oat seed lipase is similar to that of the lipase fromGeotrichum candidum, except that the oat seed lipase attacks elaidate, a fatty acyl group with atrans double bond, whereas theG. candidum lipase strongly discriminates against elaidate.     

Content of trans-fatty acids in edible margarines

Fatty acid composition, including trans-isomers, was determined for four types of imported margarines consumed by the Bulgarian population. The results were compared with data obtained from a Bulgarian edible margarine produced under German license. Fatty acid composition and trans-isomer content were determined by gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters on a packed and capillary column, respectively. The total contents of trans-isomers of oleic and linoleic acid were within the ranges of 1.9–8.0% and 0.4–1.4%, respectively. The Bulgarian margarine contained similar quantities of trans-isomers.     

Identification of nine acetylenic fatty acids, 9-hydroxystearic acid and 9,10-epoxystearic acid in the seed oil ofJodina rhombifolia hook et arn. (Santalaceae)

In addition to some usual fatty acids, the seed oil ofJodina rhombifolia (Santalaceae) contains nine acetylenic fatty acids [9-octadecynoic acid (stearolic acid) (1.1%),trans-10-heptadecen-8-ynoic acid (pyrulic acid) (20.1%), 7-hydroxy-trans-10-heptadecen-8-ynoic acid (2.3%),trans-10,16-heptadecadien-8-ynoic acid (0.7%), 7-hydroxy-trans-10,16-heptadecadien-8-ynoic acid (0.1%),trans-11-octadecen-9-ynoic acid (ximenynic acid) (20.3%), 8-hydroxy-trans-11-octadecen-9-ynoic acid (12.2%),trans-11,17-octadecadien-9-ynoic acid (1.5%), 8-hydroxy-trans-11,17-octadecadien-9-ynoic acid (1.3%), 9-hydroxystearic acid (<0.1%) and 9,10-epoxystearic acid (0.7%)]. The fatty acids have been analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of their methyl ester and 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives. The hydroxy fatty acid methyl esters have been examined also as trimethyl-silyl ethers. Furthermore, the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) have been fractionated according to their polarity (FAME-A: nonhydroxy; FAME-B: hydroxy fatty acids) and to their degree of unsaturation (FAME-A1/A2; FAME-B1/B2) by preparative thin-layer chromatography and argentation chromatography, respectively. All of these fractions have been analyzed by ultraviolet and infrared spectroscopy, and the fractions FAME-A and FAME-B have been analyzed further by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H,¹³C, 2D H/C, attached proton test) spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. This work is dedicated to the 65th birthday of Prof. Dr. K. Pfeilsticker, Institut of Food Science, University Bonn (Germany).     

Formation and distribution of oxidized fatty acids during deep‐ and pan‐frying of potatoes

The formation of cis‐9,10‐epoxystearate, trans‐9,10‐epoxystearate, cis‐9,10‐epoxyoleate, cis‐12,13‐epoxyoleate, trans‐9,10‐epoxyoleate, trans‐12,13‐epoxyoleate and the co‐eluting 9‐ and 10‐ketostearates during eight successive pan‐ and deep‐frying sessions of pre‐fried potatoes in five different types of vegetable oils – namely cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, vegetable shortening, palm oil and virgin olive oil – was followed and quantified both in fried oils and in fried potatoes by GC/MS after derivatization to methyl esters. These oxidized fatty acids were present at relatively low concentrations in the fresh oils and pre‐fried potatoes while they increased linearly with frying time, reaching up to 1140.8 µg/g in virgin olive oil (VOO) and 186.9 µg/g in potatoes pan‐fried in VOO after eight pan‐frying sessions, with trans‐9,10‐epoxystearate predominating in all cases. The formation of polymerized triacylglycerols (PTG) was also quantified in frying oils by size exclusion HPLC. Pan‐frying caused higher oxidized fatty acid and PTG formation compared to deep‐frying. Epoxyoleates and PTG concentrations were increased after frying in polyunsaturated oils, while epoxystearate and 9‐ and 10‐ketostearate concentrations were increased after frying in monounsaturated oils. No specific absorption of the oxidized fatty acids by the fried potatoes seems to occur. The dietary intake of oxidized fatty acids and PTG by the consumption of fried potatoes was discussed.     

Regioselective analysis of the fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols with conventional high-performance liquid chromatography

A new method for regioselective analysis of triacyglycerols via conventional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed. The method is simple and avoids the time-consuming purification processes normally characteristics of regioselective analyses. The procedure utilizes an sn-1,3-specific lipase from Rhizopus arrhizus to deacylate the fatty acid residues located at the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of triacylglycerols. The fatty acid residues esterified at the sn-2 position are determined by subtraction of the results of the sn-1,3 analysis from an overall composition analysis based on complete saponification of the original sample. The fatty acid mixtures are converted to p-bromophenacyl esters and analyzed using conventional HPLC techniques. The analytical procedure has been verified using a standard structured triacylglycerol. The analytical results for three edible vegetable oils are compared with those obtained via the method proposed by P.J. Williams and co-workers.