Comparative quantitative fatty acid analysis of triacylglycerols using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography.

Quantitative analyses of fatty acids from five triacylglycerol products, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, palm oil, lard and cocoa butter, were carried out using two analytical methods: matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) and gas chromatography (GC), in an effort to validate the application of MALDI-TOFMS in quantitative fatty acid analysis. For the GC analysis, transmethylated products were used, whereas, for the MALDI-TOF analysis, saponified products were used. Under MALDI-TOF conditions, the acids were detected as sodiated sodium carboxylates RCOONa + Na consistent with the mode of ionization that was previously reported. Thus, the MALDI-TOF mass spectrum of saponified coconut oil showed the presence of sodiated sodium salts of caprylic acid (7.5 +/- 0.67, m/z 189), capric acid (6.9 +/- 0.83, m/z 217), lauric acid (47.8 +/- 0.67, m/z 245), myristic acid (20.4 +/- 0.51, m/z 273), palmitic acid (9.8 +/- 0.47, m/z 301), linoleic acid (0.9 +/- 0.07, m/z 325), oleic acid (4.8 +/- 0.42, m/z 327) and stearic acid (2.0 +/- 0.13, m/z 329). Saponified palm kernel oil had a fatty acid profile that included caprylic acid (3.5 +/- 0.59), capric acid (4.7 +/- 0.82), lauric acid (58.6 +/- 2.3), myristic acid (20.9 +/- 1.5), palmitic acid (7.2 +/- 1.1), oleic acid (3.8 +/- 0.62) and stearic acid (1.2 +/- 0.15). Saponified palm oil gave myristic acid (0.83 +/- 0.18), palmitic acid (55.8 +/- 1.7), linoleic acid (4.2 +/- 0.51), oleic acid (34.5 +/- 1.5), stearic acid (3.8 +/- 0.26) and arachidic acid (0.80 +/- 0.22). Saponified lard showed the presence of myristic acid (1.5 +/- 0.24), palmitic acid (28.9 +/- 1.3), linoleic acid (13.7 +/- 0.67), oleic acid (38.7 +/- 1.4), stearic acid (12.8 +/- 0.64) and arachidic acid (2.4 +/- 0.35). Finally, for saponified cocoa butter, the fatty acid distribution was: palmitic acid (32.3 +/- 1.0), linoleic acid (2.6 +/- 0.35), oleic acid (34.9 +/- 1.7) and stearic acid (30.3 +/- 1.6). Quantitative gas chromatographic analysis of the corresponding methyl esters from these triacylglycerol products yielded data that were mostly in agreement with the MALDI-TOFMS data. The MALDI-TOF experiment, however, proved to be superior to the GC experiment, particularly with regard to baseline resolution of unsaturated acids. Furthermore, the ability of MALDI-TOFMS to detect low concentrations of fatty acids rendered it more sensitive than the GC methodology.