Supercritical fluid chromatographic analysis of new crop seed oils and their reactions

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with an open tubular column of nonpolar stationary phase separated triglycerides from crambe, meadowfoam, Euphorbia lagascae , and vernonia oils based on their molecular weight. The triglyceride compositions were consistent with the literature. SFC proved also to be a valuable tool in analyzing lipase‐catalyzed transesterification reactions where lesquerella oil and estolides were among the substrates employed. Analyte molecular weights could be estimated from a retention time‐ (or elution density‐) molecular eeight calibration curve. An increase in isothermal column temperature during SFC pressure or density programming improved the resolution of high‐molecular‐weight (>600 Da) analytes but yielded poorer resolution for analytes of molecular weight <200. A simultaneous pressure and temperature ramping program proved superior in enhancing resolution in several instances.