OCCURRENCE OF ESTOLIDES IN PROCESSED DIMORPHOTHECA-PLUVIALIS SEED OIL

Samples of oil from Dimorphotheca pluvialis processed by extraction an d mechanical expelling were analyzed using supercritical fluid chromat ography (SFC), lipase-catalyzed reactions, and H-1-NMR. SFC analysis d etected the occurrence of free fatty acid, diglycerides, and unknown m aterials having molecular weights equivalent to four and five acyl gro ups. These components were present in larger quantities for oils recov ered via mechanical expelling. Results from lipase-catalyzed reactions and NMR analysis suggest the large molecular weight molecules are tri glycerides containing additional acyl groups through estolide bonds. T he chemical shifts of the olefinic protons on the conjugated double bo nds of dimorphecolic [D(+)-18:2(10t,12t)-OH9] acid and its estolides a ppeared at higher ppm values when compared to non-conjugated olefinic absorptions.