Liquid chromatographic studies for essential fatty acids on a commercial alkyl phenyl bonded silica column

Abstract

Retention studies on arachidonic acid 5, 8, 11, 14 all cis eicosatetraenoic acid, C20:4ω6), eicosapentaenoic acid (5, 8, 11, 14, 17 all cis eicosapentaenoic acid, C20:5ω3) and docosahexaenoic acid (4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 all cis docosahexaenoic acid C22:6ω3) were performed on a commercial μBondapak free fatty acid analysis column. The ternary mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, water and tetrahydrofuran was used in an isocratic mode with differential refractometry detection. Retention data were measured at various flow rates with two different, mobile-phase compositions. Capacity factors and enthalpy of adsorption were calculated from the retention data. Finally the retention mechanism is explained.