Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of canola, castor and olive oils

A fast-drying sample preparation method, using alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnami c acid as a matrix in an acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran solvent system, has b een used to obtain the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectra of commercial canola, castor and olive oi ls. The resulting spectra showed sodiated triacylglycerol molecules [M + Na ](+). The canola oil contained at least eight triacylglycerols which were i dentified as: triolein, linoleoyldioleoylglycerol (OOL), dilinoleoyloleoylg lycerol (OLL), trilinolein (LLL), dilinoleoyllinolenoylglycerol (LLLi), dio leoylpalmitoylglycerol (POO), linoleoylaleoylpalmitoylglycerol (POL) and di linoleoylpalmitoylglycerol (PLL), The three brands of olive oil, Filippo Be rio, Extra Virgin Pompeian and Progresso, were shown to contain triolein (O OO), OOL, OLL, POO and POL. The castor oil MALDI-TOF spectrum was uncomplic ated, indicating the occurrence of triricinolein (RRR), diricinoleoylstearo ylglycerol (RRS), diricinoleoyloleoylglycerol (RRS), diricinoleoyllinoleoyl glycerol (RRL) and palmitoyldiricinoleoylglycerol (RRP), Copyright (C) 1999 John Whey & Sons, Ltd.