Separation of gamma- and alpha-linolenic acid containing triacylglycerols by capillary supercritical fluid chromatography.

The separation of gamma- and alpha-linolenic acid containing triacylglycerols with an identical acyl carbon number and degree of unsaturation was obtained on capillary supercritical fluid chromatography using a 25% cyanopropyl-75% methylpolysiloxane stationary phase. The resolution of 1,3-dioleoyl-2-alpha-linolenoyl-sn-glycerol was 1.35 on a 10 m x 50 microns i.d. column, whereas the resolution was enhanced to 1.66 by combining two 10-meter columns in series. The difference in the position of double bonds in one linolenic acid residue of triacylglycerols resulted in two series of peaks in the separation of alpine currant (Ribes alpinum) and black currant (R. nigrum) seed oils. The use of the 10-meter column was found to be appropriate for the screening of the triacylglycerol profile in both seed oils studied.