Fast Separation of Triacylglycerols in Oils using UltraPerformance Convergence Chromatography (UPC2)

IN T RO DU C T IO N UltraPerformance Convergence ChromatographyTM (UPC2®) is a novel technology that applies the performance advantages of UPLC to supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Combining the use of supercritical CO2 with sub-2-μm particle columns, UPC2 represents an analysis technique that is orthogonal to reversed-phase LC and can be used to solve many troublesome separations that challenge conventional LC or GC analyses. It also generates less solvent waste as compared to liquid chromatography. These benefits have led to interest in applying this technology to various industrial analytical areas. The established UPC2/MS approach has potential application in lipidomics as a complementary method alongside LC/MS and GC/MS, as it can separate both polar and non-polar lipids, and in many cases does not require derivatization of lipids to improve detection limits and peak shape. Studies using UPC2 coupled with ultraviolet (UV) detection, mass spectrometry (MS), and evaporative light scattering (ELS) detection for the separation of triacylglycerols in tobacco, corn, sesame, and soybean seed oils are presented in this application note. A single unendcapped C18 column with acetonitrile-modified CO2 was used for the separation of all seed oils.