Analysis of Fatty Acid Amides (Erucic Acid Amide, Oleic Acid Amide)

Importance of the Topic

Fatty acid amides, such as oleic acid amide and erucic acid amide, serve important roles as bioactive lipids in physiological processes. Rapid and reliable quantification of these compounds is essential in lipid profiling, quality control of food and pharmaceutical products, and research into signaling molecules.

Study Objectives and Overview

This study aimed to develop a fast reversed-phase liquid chromatography method for simultaneous analysis of oleic acid amide and erucic acid amide using the Shim-pack GIST C18 column. The approach focused on achieving clear baseline separation within a short run time while maintaining reproducibility and simplicity in mobile phase composition.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Instrumentation: Shimadzu Prominence system
• Column: Shim-pack GIST C18, 150 mm×4.6 mm I.D., 5 µm (P/N: 227-30017-07)
• Mobile phase: Acetonitrile (isocratic)
• Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min
• Column temperature: 50 °C
• Detection: UV at 210 nm (SPD-20A)
• Injection volume: 10 µL

Main Results and Discussion

The method achieved baseline separation of oleic acid amide and erucic acid amide (200 mg/L each) within a 5-minute run. Retention times were approximately 1.5 minutes and 3.2 minutes, respectively. Peak shapes were sharp and symmetrical, indicating efficient interaction with the C18 stationary phase. The isocratic acetonitrile system provided robust performance and simple operation.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High throughput analysis due to short run time
• Minimal sample preparation and single-solvent mobile phase simplify workflows
• Reproducible retention and quantitation support routine QA/QC in industrial and research laboratories
• Potential extension to a wider range of fatty acid amides

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advancements may include coupling the method with mass spectrometric detection for enhanced sensitivity and selectivity, exploration of eco-friendly mobile phases, shorter columns for ultra-fast separations, and automation for large-scale lipidomics studies.

Conclusion

The developed Shim-pack GIST C18 method offers a rapid, reliable, and straightforward solution for analyzing key fatty acid amides, meeting the demands of modern analytical laboratories for speed and simplicity.

References

• Shimadzu Corporation (2022). Application Note ERAS-1000-0370. First Edition: Sep. 2022.