RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 17 December 2005, p. 92-102

SPECTROSCOPIC IDENTIFICATION OF GEOMETRICAL ISOMERS OF Α- AND Β -CAROTENES FROM PALM OIL

TAY Yen Ping, Bonnie ; EE Cheng Lian, Gwendoline

ABSTRACT

To date, all identification of palm carotenoids are tentative based on electronic absorption spectra, comparison of the elution sequence with past studies and authentic standards. This study reports the isolation of individual major isomers of palm carotenes using a semi-preparative C30column. The results of MS, 1H NMR of four isolated peaks, assigned as Fraction 1 (a mixture of 13 and 13’ cis α -carotene), Fraction 2 (13 cis β -carotene), Fraction 3 (all trans α -carotene) and Fraction 4 (cis β -carotene) supported the identification of their structures

KEYWORDS:


* Malaysian Palm Oil Board,
P. O. Box 10620,
50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
E-mail: bonnie@mpob.gov.my

** Universiti Putra Malaysia,
Department of Chemistry,
Faculty of Science and Environment,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.