The determination of stigmastadienes in vegetable oils (technical report)

The development by collaborative study of a standardised method for the det ermination of the stigmastadienes content in vegetable oils is described. T he procedure involves the isolation of the unsaponifiable matter in the oil ands its fractioning on a silica gel column. The fraction containing the s teroidal hydrocarbons is then analysed by capillary gas chromatography and the quantitative assessment made by the use of an internal standard/cholest an-3,5-stadiene. The procedure is very sensitive allowing determination at levels of 0.01-4.0 mg/kg.