Gas-liquid chromatography of triglyceride mixtures containing both odd and even carbon number fatty acids.

Quantitative GLC of triglycerides has been extended to natural fats containing both odd and even carbon number fatty acids. A 1.83-m glass column containing 3.0% JXR silicone on 100/120 mesh Gas-Chrom Q resolved triglycerides differing by only one carbon number. Peak resolution was significantly improved by hydrogenating each triglyceride sample prior to GLC analysis.The triglycerides of four fish oils (mullet, tuna, menhaden, and pilchard) and one seed fat (Acanthosyris spinescens) containing odd carbon number fatty acids were analyzed by this technique. The method was also useful for determining the triglyceride composition of the cyclopentene fatty acid oil fromHydnocarpus wightiana seeds.