The fatty acids of degras

Degras contains a complex mixture of lipids comprised of branched and normal chain fatty acids, hydroxy acids, sterols, sterol esters and long chain wax esters. There are no glycerides in degras. This paper is a report on the composition of the branched and normal chain fatty acids. Preparative techniques of thin-layer chromatography were used to isolate the fatty acids from the other lipid classes. Gas chromatography was used on three different stationary phase separations of the fatty acid methyl esters. Identifications of the composition were based on a combination of techniques and known standards. Authorized for publication on April 20, 1965, as paper No. 3003 in the journal series of The Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.