Gel permeation chromatography of neutral hydroxy lipids on Sephadex LH-20

Gel-permeation chromatography on Sephadex LH-20, using ethanol as eluent, permits the resolution of neutral hydroxy lipids according to molecular size. The influence of molecular shape, functional groups, chain lengths, and degree of unsaturation, as well as the effect of the eluent on the elution pattern are discussed. The usefulness of the method for the separation of classes of hydroxy lipids which cannot be resolved by other chromatographic procedures, is demonstrated. Examples include the separations of 1,2- and 1,3-diglycerides from long-chain alcohols, and of alkyl ethanediol monoethers from cholesterol.