Free Fatty Acid (FFA) Analysis Service

In animal bodies, many dietary lipids are hydrolyzed into free fatty acids (FFA) before being absorbed and further used for lipid synthesis. Lipids can be hydrolyzed into free fatty acids by lipases such as hormone-sensitive lipase, lipoprotein lipase, and phospholipases A and C, which are then metabolized through various pathways including oxidation, desaturation, elongation, and re-esterification.

Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) are a type of fatty acid ester obtained by transesterification of fats with methanol. These molecules in biodiesel are primarily derived from vegetable oils through transesterification. They are used in the production of detergents and biodiesel. Fatty acid methyl esters can generally be synthesized through a base-catalyzed reaction of methanol with fats in the presence of an alkali, such as sodium methoxide or sodium hydroxide, which usually produces formaldehyde.

Free fatty acids

In the early development of GLC for analytical purposes, James and Martin's 1952 discovery regarding the separation and determination of fatty acids was the first significant finding. Shortly thereafter, Cropper and Heywood reported methods for the separation of fatty acid methyl esters using gas chromatography. Since then, gas chromatography for the analysis of fatty acids by measuring fatty acid methyl esters has become one of the most widely used analytical methods in lipid research laboratories, with extensive applications in biochemical, biomedical, microbiological, agricultural, and ecological research.

GC-MS provides spectral information for the separation of compounds, offering an effective means for selective compound analysis; combined with the powerful capabilities of MS in complex compound analysis. The combination of mass spectrometry with gas chromatography allows for qualitative characterization of fatty acid methyl ester mixtures. BiotechPack Parker Biotech offers highly stable, reproducible, and sensitive systems for the separation, characterization, identification, and quantitative analysis, providing reliable, fast, and cost-effective free fatty acid analysis services. Please inquire!

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