Simple quantitative transesterification of lipids 1. introduction

A simple and reproducible quantitative method of acid catalysed transesterification of lipids is described, utilisable for sample quantities from several hundreds of μg to several hundreds of mg. It consists in heating the sample with a transesterification mixture (chloroform, methanol and acetylchloride) in a sealed glass ampoule or in a vial and subsequent neutralization of the hydrogen chloride formed with silver carbonate. After centrifugation the supernatant can be analyzed directly by GC, GC‐MS, or also further separated by means of TLC, CC or HPLC Quantitative studies can be carried out especially with lipids containing short chain fatty acids in their molecule, beginning with 2‐methyl propanoic acid (i‐4:0). Description of all significant gas chromatography peaks of individual components of the transesterification mixture is presented, before and after the reaction, in relation to the peaks of methyl esters of short chain fatty acids.