Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: A description is given of the development by collaborative study of two standardized methods for the determination of polar compounds in oils and fats by adsorption chromatography using silica minicolumns, and for quantification of polymerized triacylglycerols, oxidized triacylglycerols, and diacylglycerols in polar compounds by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. The first procedure is sensitive, allowing savings in time, solvents, and reagents as compared to the previous determination (Standard Method 2.507), while the second is very rapid, giving a detailed information on the main groups of compounds in fats and oils associated with hydrolysis, oxidation, and thermal polymerization. Both methods are useful for the analysis of used frying fats as well as for the analysis of virgin or refined oils.