Triglyceride analysis with microcapillary gas chromatography columns.

The use of short microcapillary gas chromatography columns (internal diameter, I.D. 50 mu m) for rapid triglygeride analysis in fats and oils is reported. Triglyceride separation was mainly based on molecular weight differences (Carbon number, CN,) and unsaturations give a very great contribution to peak retention. The two microcapillaries used were 1 and 0.65 m long, while the film thickness (SE-54) was respectively 0.15 and 0.23 mu m. The short microcapillary columns show high efficiency, high inertia, high reproducibility and high thermostability of the stationary phase. Good performances were obtained in the analysis of triglycerides in some commercial products such as fats and oils.