Determination of cis, cis-methylene interrupted polyunsaturated fatty acids in fats and oils by capillary gas chromatography.

A capillary gas chromatographic (CGC) method is described for the determination of cis,cis-methylene interrupted polyunsaturated fatty acids (cis-PUFA) in fats and oils. The sample is saponified and the liberated fatty acids are esterified to the corresponding methyl esters. The latter are analyzed by CGC using a 60 M. SP2340 capillary column. Area percent values for 9,12-cis,cis-C18:2 and 9,12,15-cis,cis,cis-C18:3 fatty acid methyl esters are summed to give the total cis-PUFA content. Gas chromatographic results agreed well with those obtained by an enzymatic lipoxygenase method at the 31-48% cis-PUFA levels with a correlation coefficient of 0.98. The method has a precision (relative standard deviation) of 0.33% at a 44.4% cis-PUFA level in margarine oil.