Comparison of FTIR and capillary gas chromatographic methods for quantitation oftrans unsaturation in fatty acid methyl esters

A computer-assisted method has been developed for estimation of isolatedtrans unsaturation using the peak area of thetrans absorbance band at 966 cm-1from FTIR spectra of fatty acid methyl esters. Peak areas were used to determine thetrans content of weighed standards containing from 0 to 100% methyl elaidate and of hydrogenated soybean oil samples containing up to 36%trans unsaturation. These data for percenttrans by FTIR were compared to corresponding data obtained by capillary gas chromatography and the AOCS Official Method 14-61. Determination of isolatedtrans composition in oils using peak areas gave values with the smallest standard deviation for weighed standards and values within 4% of those obtained by capillary gas chromatography and the AOCS Official Method for hydrogenated samples. Presented at the AOCS meeting in Phoenix, AZ in May 1988. To whom correspondence should be addressed.