Supercritical fluid chromatographic analysis of fish oils

Various natural and processed fish oil triglyceride mixtures have been analyzed by capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). The analyses were performed on nonpolar columns to separate the components by lipid class and by the number of carbon atoms. The compounds separated included free fatty acids, squalene, α‐tocopherol, cholesterol, wax esters, cholesteryl esters, di‐ and triglycerides. This kind of analysis is not possible by gas chromatography or high‐performance liquid chromatography methods without prior treatment of the fish oil, making SFC superior for this application. Applications of SFC to fish oils are given, including a control analysis of the various process steps in the refining of a fish oil, analysis of a lipase‐catalyzed transesterification of a fish oil and the detection of polymeric artifacts.