Experimental design optimization of chromatographic separation for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vegetable oils

HPLC with and electron acceptor stationary phase called tetrachlorophtallmi dopropyl (TCP) was used to separate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in vegetable oils without any preparation of the samples being studied. Us ing an hexane/methylterbutylether mobile phase then an hexane/dichlorometha ne one, it was possible to separate triglycerides and tocopherols from PAH fraction. A fractional factorial design 2(7-4) was used to perform the frac tionating then the separation of the PAH fraction with the minimum of exper iments. Seven factors were examined and the chromatography quality was eval uated through four answers. Finally, the predictions of the models and the characteristics of the separation were compared: the agreement was very goo d.