Determination of Free Fatty Acids in Natural Oils and Alkyd Resins by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Mixtures of free fatty acids in natural oil and alkyd resin samples were analyzed using a .mu.Bondapak free fatty acid column in conjunction with a ternary mobile phase. Variation of the mobile phase composition allows fingerprinting as well as quantitation of the fatty acid components. Samples can be analyzed in 10 min by this method. The results of the application of this technique to the identification of oil sources of fatty acids as well as the production of fatty acids during alkyd resin synthesis are given. Good agreement occurred for fatty acid compositions determined via HPLC [high pressure liquid chromatography] with htose obtained by gas chromatographic methyl ester analysis.