MASS-SPECTROMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF VERNONIA-GALAMENSIS OIL

Vernonia galamensis seed oil is a natural source of epoxidized triacyl glycerols, which consist of 52% trivernolin and a mixture of other tri acylglycerols. Epoxidized oils are used for industrial applications, s uch as coatings and plastic formulations. To determine the major molec ular species present in Vernonia oil, desorption chemical ionization/m ass spectrometry and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry were used to determine its glyceride composition. Seven triacylglycerols predominat ed: divernoloylarachidonate, trivernolin, divernoloylstearate, diverno loyloleate, divernoloyllinoleate, dilinolenoyl vernolate and divernolo ylpalmitate.