APPLICATION OF HIGH VACUUM FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION TO COMPLEX MIXTURES OF METHYL ESTERS OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS

A technique for the high vacuum fractional distillation, with a spinning band column, of methyl esters of polyunsaturated fatty acids employing a carrier of long chain acetates is described. The carrier is used to facilitate the fractionation of minor components and minimize artifact formation in mixtures of methyl esters containing up to six double bonds. The technique is demonstrated on a standard mixture of methyl esters and applied to a concentrate of unsaturated methyl esters containing a large number of minor components as well as methyl docosahexaenoate. © 1965, American Oil Chemists’ Society. All rights reserved.