The GC analysis of four common polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (PUFA FAMEs) in algal biodiesel is described using method EN 15779. An Agilent 7890A GC system was configured and calibrated according to the procedure outlined in the method. Two samples of B100 biodiesel made from algae oil were each prepared in duplicate and analyzed according to the conditions set forth in the method. In each sample, the four PUFA FAMEs were chromatographically separated and quantified. The analysis precision was calculated and shown to exceed the specifications of the EN 15779 methods.
This document details the use of the Agilent 7890A Gas Chromatograph to analyze four common polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (PUFA FAMEs) in biodiesel derived from algae and marine oils. The analysis follows the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) method EN 15779 to measure specific fatty acids that can affect fuel quality.
The note provides specific instrument configurations, including hardware options, column details, and operating conditions such as oven ramps and inlet temperatures. It presents results from duplicate analyses of two algal biodiesel samples, demonstrating the system's precision and repeatability against the specifications defined in the EN 15779 standard.
| GC System | Agilent 7890A Series GC |
|---|---|
| Autoinjector | Agilent 7693 Autoinjector |
| Column | 123-7032 DB-Wax Column |
| Inlet Mode | Split at 50:1 split ratio |
| Detector Temperature | 250 °C |
| Column Flow | Hydrogen at 1 mL/min |
The analysis uses method EN 15779, a GC method developed by the European Committee for Standardization.
The method measures methyl eicosatetraenoate (C20:4), methyl eicosapentaenoate (C20:5), methyl docosapentaenoate (C22:5), and methyl docosahexaenoate (C22:6).
A 1.0 mg/mL solution of methyl tricosanoate (C23:0) in n-heptane is used as an internal standard.