Review Article

Chromatographic Methods in the Separation of Long-Chain Mono- and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Table 1

Survey of some selected TLC conditions useful for separation and identification of MUFA and PUFA from various samples.

AnalyteStationary phaseMobile phaseRemarksReference

Extract of lipids coming from aquatic organisms containing PUFAPlain silica gel plateHexane-diethyl ether-acetic acid 95 : 5 : 1 (v/v/v)The plates were sprayed with sulphuric acid and next analyzed densitometrically at 600 nm[40]

Human plasma lipids containing linoleic acidMicroscope plates coated with silica gel GHexane-diethyl ether-acetic acid 90 : 10 : 1 (v/v/v)The spots were visualized by solution of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein in ethanol or by sulfuric acid, respectively[61]

Deodorized fish oil containing eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acidArgentate silica gelToluene-methanol 85 : 15 (v/v)Ag-TLC method[63]

Seafood containing saturated and unsaturated fatty acidsSilica gel coated Chromarod/IatroscanHexane-diethyl ether-formic acid 99 : 1 : 0.5 (v/v/v)  
Chloroform-methanol-water 5 : 4 : 1 (v/v/v)
TLC-FID method  
(TLC coupled with flame ionization detector)
[73]

Milk sample containing linoleic acidArgentate silica gelHexane-diethyl ether 90 : 10 (v/v)Ag-TLC in combination with UV detection at 234 nm, the spots were visualized by solution of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein in methanol[76]

Cell lipid extract containing PUFASilica gel platesChloroform-methanol-acetic acid-water  
60 : 50 : 1 : 4 (v/v/v)  
Heptane-diethyl ether-acetic acid 60 : 40 : 2 (v/v/v)
TLC-densitometry, after developing the plates were impregnated with cupric acetate and phosphoric acid[77]

Fatty acids isolated from lipid-rich seedsTLC plates (silica gel 60)Hexane-diethyl ether-acetic acid 70 : 30 : 1 (v/v/v)TLC with UV detection at 365 nm, ethanolic solution of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein was used to visualize the spots[78]

Fatty acids separated from oleosomes of beach peaSilica gel TLCHexane-diethyl ether-acetic acid 85 : 15 : 2 (v/v/v)TLC method, iodine vapors were used to visualize the spots[79]