Combined liquid and gas chromatographic characterisation of polyglycerol fatty acid eaters

In the present study a combined liquid and gas chromatographic technique is described for the analysis of polyglycerol fatty acid esters. Liquid chrom atographic fractionation of samples resulted in pure standards of monoester s of di- and triglycerols and diesters of di- and triglycerols. Confirmatio n of their identity was achieved by LC-MS analysis. Moreover, a chromatogra phic identification of the mono- and diesters of cyclic diglycerol was prop osed. From the isolation of pure esters and their gas chromatographic analy sis, it was revealed that co-elution of several compounds occurred. Thus it was shown that prefractionation of the sample using a simplified liquid ch romatographic separation, was necessary in order to characterise the esters correctly. In combination with some other chemical analyses, a complete pr ofile of the chemical composition of polyglycerol fatty acid esters can be obtained. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.