Gas chromatography Fourier transform infrared spectrometry of fatty acids:: New applications with a direct deposition interface

Infrared spectroscopy is a suitable spectroscopic method to differentiate geometric Z and E isomers of unsaturated compounds. A direct-deposition Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), coupled to a gas chromatograph, was used successfully to analyze with a high sensitivity traces of C18:1 fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) isomers. It could also conclusively distinguish between isomers of conjugated diunsaturated FAME. The achievable sensitivity of this direct-deposition device makes possible accurate FAME mixture analyses that are not currently attainable with the more conventional light-pipe interface.