ARS | Publication request: Regiospecific Quantification of Triacylglycerols Containing Ricinoleate and Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Castor Oil by Mass Spectrometry

Submitted to: Trade Journal Publication
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 1, 2009
Publication Date: August 1, 2009
Citation: Lin, J.T. 2009. Regiospecific Quantification of Triacylglycerols Containing Ricinoleate and Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Castor Oil by Mass Spectrometry. Inform. 20(8):543-545.

Technical Abstract: Ricinoleate, a monohydroxy fatty acid, has many industrial uses such as the manufacture of aviation lubricant, plastic, paint and cosmetics. Ricinoleate occurs as acylglycerols (AG) in castor oil, and about 70% of castor oil is triricinolein. Castor oil is the only commercial source of ricinoleate. We have earlier identified and quantified 14 molecular species of AG containing ricinoleate in castor oil using HPLC and MS. We have recently identified 2-(12-ricinoleoylricinoleoyl)-1,3-diricinoleoyl-sn-glycerol (RRRR) and 12 AG containing dihydroxy fatty acids in castor oil. The structures of the three newly identified dihydroxy fatty acids were proposed as 11,12-dihydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid, 11,12-dihydroxy-9,13-octadecadienoic acid and 11,12-dihydroxyoctadecanoic acid. The regiospecific ratios of the molecular species of triacylglycerols (TAG) were also estimated. For diricinoleoylacylglycerols in castor oil, the non-hydroxy fatty acid is predominately at the sn-2 position. For RRRR, ricinoleoylricinoleoyl chain is predominately at the sn-2 position. For TAG containing dihydroxy fatty acids, dihydroxy fatty acids are predominately at the sn-1,3 positions.