CHEMICAL-STRUCTURE OF LONG-CHAIN ESTERS FROM SANSA OLIVE OIL

The major objective of this study was to determine the chemical struct ure of long-chain esters present in lower grade olive oil. The classes of esters composing the hexane-diethyl ether (99:1) extract of the wa x fraction from a pomace olive oil were: (i) esters of oleic acid with C-1-C-6 alcohols, (ii) eaters of oleic acid with long chain aliphatic alcohols in the range C-22-C-28 and (iii) benzyl alcohol eaters of th e very long-chain saturated fatty acids C-26 and C-28. The analysis an d the structure assignments were carried out by gas chromatography cou pled with mass spectrometry and by comparison with synthetic authentic model compounds. This work provided precise data on the chemical natu re of the wax eaters present in olive oil and should represent a means to detect adulteration of higher-grade olive oil with less expensive pomace olive oil and seed oils.