Quality analysis of virgin olive oils – Part 2 Thermal treatment analysis – determination of polymerized triglycerides with SEC/GPC using the Agilent 1260 Infi nity LC System with Refractive Index Detection

This Application Note shows the analysis of polymerized triacylglycerides in olive oil using the Agilent 1260 Infi nity LC with size exclusion chromatography/gel permeation chromatography (SEC/GPC) with refractive index detection (RID). The analysis of six virgin olive oils revealed only minor amounts of polymerized triacylglycerides (PTAGs) indicating no refi ning or other thermal treatment processes. The partly refi ned olive oil (a mix of refi ned and virgin olive oils) revealed substantial amounts of PTAGs. In addition, the amount of free fatty acids in extra virgin olive oil could be determined using the same chromatographic conditions as for the PTAG analysis with SEC and RI detection. Author Sonja Schneider Agilent Technologies, Inc. Waldbronn, Germany Fr ee fa tt y ac id s Tr ia cy lg ly ce rid es D ia cy lg ly ce rid es D im er iz ed tr ia cy lg ly ce rid es min 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 nR IU ×10 7.00 7.05 7.10 7.15 7.20 7.25 7.30 7.35 Verified for Agilent 1260 Infinity II LC