Complete separation of the geometical isomers of linolenic acid by high performance liquid chromatography with a silver ion column

A method has been developed for separation of linolenic acid and its seven isomers by HPLC on a silver‐ion‐loaded column. The standard 18:3 isomers, isolated from a heated linseed oil or prepared by isomerization of linolenic acid, were converted into phenacyl esters and detected by UV at 238 nm. The use of low temperature (10 °C) combined with a gradient of dichloromethane and methanol enabled separation of all the cis / trans isomers. The peaks were identified by comparison of ECL values with those of a standard mixture, by chromatographing collected HPLC fractions on a polar GC column. HPLC quantification was compared with GC analysis. There was satisfactory agreement between the tow methods. This method could be used for seperation, collection and quantification of 18:3 fatty acids with trans double bonds in different oils and foods.