Critical Ratios for structural analysis of triacylglycerols using mass spectrometry

Recent developments have finally allowed fragment behaviors using APCI‐MS to be elucidated after twenty years of literature reports. Critical Ratios have been defined that correspond to various aspects of triacylglycerol (TAG) analysis, from overall degree of unsaturation to localization of fatty acids on the glycerol backbone (regioisomers), to grouping of unsaturated fatty acids. The same ratios also constitute a compact library of TAG mass spectra.