TRIGLYCERIDE ANALYSIS WITH MICROCAPILLARY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY COLUMNS

The use of short microcapillary gas chromatography columns (internal d iameter, I.D. 50 mu m) for rapid triglygeride analysis in fats and oil s is reported. Triglyceride separation was mainly based on molecular w eight differences (Carbon number, CN,) and unsaturations give a very g reat contribution to peak retention. The two microcapillaries used wer e 1 and 0.65 m long, while the film thickness (SE-54) was respectively 0.15 and 0.23 mu m. The short microcapillary columns show high effici ency, high inertia, high reproducibility and high thermostability of t he stationary phase. Good performances were obtained in the analysis o f triglycerides in some commercial products such as fats and oils.