On-line high-performance liquid chromatography-post-column reaction-capillary gas chromatography analysis of lipids...

The versatility of on-line liquid chromatography and gas chromatography is further expanded by the addition of on-line derivatization. The on-line fractionation, derivatization and separation system is applied to the characterization of lipids in biological samples. Separation of the triglycerides from the phospholipids was accomplished on a narrowbore (2.0 mm I.D.) 5 microns silica column. The entire triglyceride fraction was transferred to a heated fixed bed reactor for esterification of the fatty acid constituents. Transfer of the derivatized zones to the gas chromatograph was accomplished by the use of a retention gap. Application of the system to the separation and characterization of Staphylococcus aureus is presented.