RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 9 No. 2, December 1997, p. 47-60

IDENTIFICATION OF PALM OIL AND ITS FRACTIONS BY HPLC USING TRIACYLGLYCEROL PEAK-AREA RATIOS

HALIMAH Muhamad*; AITZETMULLER, K+; WERNER, G+; GRONHEIM, M+; SIEW, W L*

ABSTRACT

The concept of peak-area ratios in reversed-phase HPLC of triacylglycerols in palm oil and palm oil fractions was expanded and tested by analysis of numerous authentic samples. Palm oil fractionation changes the tripalmitin and triolein peaks and peak-area ratios. To expand the database, a large number of palm oils, palm oleins and palm stearins of Malaysian origin were investigated and the results compiled. Variability of the peak areas and peak-area ratios with changes of solvents is discussed. Peak-area ratios were found to be useful in identifying palm oils from different sources as well as in detecting possible admixtures of oils.

KEYWORDS:


* Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia,
P.O. Box 10620, 50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

+ Institute of Chemistry and Physics of Lipids,
Federal Centre for Cereal, Potato and Lipid Research,
Piusallee 76, D-48147 Munster, Germany.