Gas chromatography was used after trimethylsilyl derivatization to det
ermine the composition of soapstocks from corn germ and peanut oil ref
ining. Soap fatty acids, polyalcohols, small carbohydrates, sterols, s
teryl glycosides, mono-, di- and triglycerides were measured using a h
examethyldisilazane/pyridine preparation and a high-temperature capill
ary column. Additional peaks associated with the fatty acids appeared
in the chromatograms when pyridine was incorporated into the sample pr
eparation. Limiting the concentration of soapstock in the sample or re
placing pyridine with a chlorinated solvent reduced the formation of t
hese artifacts. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights
reserved.