HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY ANALYSIS OF PEANUT PHOSPHOLIPIDS .1. INJECTION SYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUS CONCENTRATION AND SEPARATION OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS

This paper discusses the details of a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous concentration and separation of phospholipids or other trace compounds by direct oil injection using two different solvent systems. The system equilibrates and concentrates phospholipids on a silica column using hexane. At the same time, an analytical column is equilibrating and separating phospholipids using two binary solvent mixtures. This system eliminates a preconcentration step previously accomplished by solid-phase extraction, open-column chromatography, and other previously used methodology. Other advantages include: a 40% reduction in analysis time, elimination of a second transfer of labile compounds, decreased solvent use, and a simpler array of solvents to separate phospholipids. The method described has broader applications, such as trace organic compounds in water supplies, and trace metals with appropriate modifications for the particular analysis.