Abstract The detection of C6 to C28 fatty acids is possible when their methyl esters are concentrated by urea fractionation so that esters with similar gas chromatographic retention times are in different fractions. By modified programmed temperature gas chromatographic techniques, it is possible to detect and estimate fatty acids present in trace amounts (0.1 to 0.001%) in palm kernel, shea nut, and illipe oils. The odd and even chain length saturated fatty acids from C6 to C28 were detected. The odd and even chain length mono-unsaturates from C14 to C24 and the even chain length dienes from C14 to C24 were detected