ANALYTICAL EVALUATION OF FATS AND OILS BY SIZE-EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY

In this paper,the most recent applications of high-performance size-ex clusion chromatography (HPSEC) in analyses of fats and oils are presen ted. Directly used in oils, the technique shows utility for evaluation of polymers in used frying fats and oxidized samples, as well as for analysis of low-caloric fats in blends. In concentrated fractions of p olar compounds, characterization of virgin and refined oils and follow -up of early oxidation stages are also attainable, An extended applica tion to fatty acid derivatives allows complementary analyses of specif ically oxidized and polymeric fatty acyl groups.