EN 14103 Fat and oil derivatives - Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) - Determination of ester and linolenic acid methyl ester contents
3 Reagents
Use only reagents of recognized analytical grade, unless otherwise specified.
3.1 Toluene, analytical grade.
3.2 Nonadecanoic acid methyl ester (FAME C19), purity, min. 99.5 % (m/m).
NOTE Standard should be kept in a dry storage in order to limit its water absorption. Its water content should be verified by Karl-Fischer when a new lot of standard is open.
3.3 Carrier gas, hydrogen or helium.
3.4 Auxiliary gases:
- air;
- hydrogen.
4 Apparatus
Usual laboratory apparatus and, in particular, the following.
4.1 Gas chromatograph, equipped with a variable split flow injector or equivalent device, a temperature programmable oven and a flame ionization detector.
4.2 Capillary column, coated with polyethylene glycol (Carbowax 20M) stationary phase, the following characteristics have been found suitable: length: 30 m, internal diameter: 0.25 mm, film thickness: 0.25 µm.
NOTE Stationary phase other than polyethylene glycol should be tested first before being selected as co-elution between the internal standard (FAME C19) and other fatty acid methyl esters may exist. Indeed, there is a co-elution between FAME C19 and linoleic acid methyl ester (FAME C18:2) when using a column with a stationary phase such as 70 % cyanopropyl-polysilphenyl-siloxane.
4.3 Glass mono-use tubes equipped with plastic mono-use stopper, 10 ml capacity.
4.4 Pipette, 10 ml capacity.
4.5 Analytical balance, accuracy +/- 0.1 mg.
5 Sampling
Sampling is not part of the method specified in this European Standard. A recommended sampling method is given in EN ISO 5555.
