Chromatographic column fractionation and fatty acid composition of different lipid classes of linseed oil

Linseed oil is fractionated on silicic acid column, with subsequent identification of different lipid classes by thin layer chromatography. Sterol esters, triglycerides, free fatty acids, sterols and phospholipids represent 0.15, 92.25, 3.30, 1.15 and 1.16%, respectively of linseed lipids. The total saturated fatty acid content of the phospholipid fraction is higher than that of the oil, the triglyceride fraction and the free fatty acid fraction. Linolenic acid, which is the major fatty acid in linseed triglycerides (47.5%), makes 18.2% of the phospholipid fatty acids. Oleic acid is the major fatty acid in the phospholipid fraction (35.2%), while it constitutes 19.3% of the triglycerides fatty acids.