A Generalized Study of the Effect of Structure and Other Factors in Open Tubular Gas Chromatography of Fatty Acids on a Polyester Liquid Phase With Particular Reference to Monoethylenic Fatty Acid Isomers

Abstract

Gas chromatographic separations of isomeric monoethylenic longer-chain fatty acid esters on open tubular (capillary) polyester coated columns have been evaluated with some naturally occurring isomers and certain other fatty acids. Where separations of isomers take place within one chain length a load effect is observed in which one isomer can displace other isomers of longer retention times from their normal positions. The question of the degree of separation between pairs of naturally occurring isomers with centrally located double bonds is examined in terms of the chain length and the positions of the double bonds in relation to the mid-point of the fatty acid chains. Some other factors affecting the open-tubular gas chromatography of various fatty acid esters are discussed.