Gas chromatographic separation of diterpene acids on glass capillary columns of different polarity

Mixtures of resin acids from tall oil distillation products and from naturally occurring rosins (colophony) were separated on WCOT glass capillary columns coated with SE 30, FFAP, DEGS and BDS, and the resin acids were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In contrast to previous investigations, the identified diterpene acids are characterized by Kovats index values. These retention values are correlated with the different polarity of the stationary phase. The advantages of columns coated with FFAP for the separation of crude and distilled tall oil and fatty acid samples are discussed. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Erich Ziegler at his 70th birthday