Gas Chromatography of Unsaponifiable Matter. III. Identification of Hydrocarbons, Aliphatic Alcohols, Tocopherols, Triterpenoid Alcohols, and Sterols Present in Olive Oils

Abstract

Abstract Olive oils, both foreign and domestic, were saponified, and the unsaponifiable matter was fractionated on a Florisil column. Gas chromatography of the first two hydrocarbon fractions confirmed that squalene was the major component of pressed and solvent-extracted pomace oils. However, iso-and/or anteiso- tctratriacontane was the major hydrocarbon in olive kernel oil. Hydrogenation and temperature programming indicated that there were several homologous series present, consisting of normal, iso-and/or anteiso-, and multiple branched chain hydrocarbons. Gas chromatography of the third Florisil fraction (tocopherols, high molecular weight aliphatic alcohols, and triterpenoid alcohol components) indicated the presence of three homologous series of normal, iso- and/or anteiso-, and multiple branched chain alcohols. The triterpenoid alcohols were used to distinguish between pressed and solvent-extracted pomace oils. As little as 5% of pomace oil could be detected in laboratory-prepared mixtures. Campesterol and beta-sitosterol were the two sterols present in olive oils. The Fitelson test detected olive oils consisting entirely or largely of pomace oils.