Analysis of furanoid esters in soybean oil and the effect of variety and environment on furanoid ester content

An improved method was developed to analyze the major furanoid esters in soybean oil. The method is based on urea fractionation of the methyl esters, silver ion chromatography, and gas chromatography of the furanoid concentrate. Activation of the soybean lipoxygenase decreased the amount of furanoid ester recovered from the oil, but the degumming of crude soybean oil and the choice of solvent used to extract soybean lipids caused no change in furanoid ester content. Fifty-six soybean varieties, representing a wide range in maturity group and geographical origin, were grown in Puerto Rico and used to determine the range of furanoid ester contents. Furanoid ester II ranged from 0.033–0.29 mg/g, and ester III ranged from 0.058–0.27 mg/g. The two major furanoid esters were positively correlated with each other and with maturity group. Growth environment as well as variety caused significant differences in furanoid content. Journal Paper No.J-17180 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, IA, 50011, Project No. 3414.