COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE DETERMINATION OF TRIACYLGLYCEROL IN VEGETABLE-OILS USING CHROMATOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES

The triacylglycerols of some vegetable oil samples were determined using isocratic HPLC with refractive index (RI) detection, gradient solvent HPLC with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD), capillary GC and theoretical calculations from FAME analysis in order to establish the suitability of these techniques. The response factors and the repeatability were investigated. Generally, the HPLC-RI detection technique can be used without application of response factors. HPLC ELSD yields inaccurate results for low concentrations. Calculations assuming a 1,3-random 2-random distribution of fatty acids gave good results for olive oil and acceptable results for sunflower oil. The GC analysis requires the use of response factors.