Methodology
researchers that if they could also identify most of the fatty acids of cod
liver oil, then they could also identify the same fatty acids in lipids of
human or animal body organs.
Figure 1
Correlation of log retention
time (r) data through
structural groups dependent
on number of double bonds
and the same end carbon
chains of fish oil fatty acids.
From Ackman, J. Amer.
Oil Chem. Soc., 40,
558-564 (1963).
All data was obtained on
packed columns with
ethylene glycol adipase
polyester as the liquid
phase. Each line shows
homologues. For example
x points are 20:5 (n-3)
and 22:5 (n-3).
The algae fascinated me because they were also full of an amazing
variety of unsaturated fatty acids, which passed into shellfish, copepods
or other filter feeders. However, they also contained phytol, which
yielded both fatty acids and hydrocarbons with isoprenoid structures.
These possessed stereochemical activity and the latter were of interest
in the geochemical origin of petroleum. I discovered that although an
analysis of a specific hydrocarbon or methyl ester group on a 100 m
capillary column took two hours, one could inject a series of samples
every ten minutes in the morning, and look at the series coming off the
column after lunch. The passage of solvent vapour did not interfere
with the internal resolution of earlier samples still on the column. Our
basic work on methyl esters of fatty acids was done on 50 m columns
of stainless-steel coated with polyester; a typical fish oil analysis of
about 1965 is shown in figure 2.
The non-methylene-interrupted dienoic acids (NMID) are an excellent
example of my good fortune with “samples of opportunity”. While
vacationing at the seashore with relatives I picked up some moon snails
because I observed that they were carnivores and showed great interest
in eating the local clams. Capillary column study of the fatty acid
11
researchers that if they could also identify most of the fatty acids of cod
liver oil, then they could also identify the same fatty acids in lipids of
human or animal body organs.
Figure 1
Correlation of log retention
time (r) data through
structural groups dependent
on number of double bonds
and the same end carbon
chains of fish oil fatty acids.
From Ackman, J. Amer.
Oil Chem. Soc., 40,
558-564 (1963).
All data was obtained on
packed columns with
ethylene glycol adipase
polyester as the liquid
phase. Each line shows
homologues. For example
x points are 20:5 (n-3)
and 22:5 (n-3).
The algae fascinated me because they were also full of an amazing
variety of unsaturated fatty acids, which passed into shellfish, copepods
or other filter feeders. However, they also contained phytol, which
yielded both fatty acids and hydrocarbons with isoprenoid structures.
These possessed stereochemical activity and the latter were of interest
in the geochemical origin of petroleum. I discovered that although an
analysis of a specific hydrocarbon or methyl ester group on a 100 m
capillary column took two hours, one could inject a series of samples
every ten minutes in the morning, and look at the series coming off the
column after lunch. The passage of solvent vapour did not interfere
with the internal resolution of earlier samples still on the column. Our
basic work on methyl esters of fatty acids was done on 50 m columns
of stainless-steel coated with polyester; a typical fish oil analysis of
about 1965 is shown in figure 2.
The non-methylene-interrupted dienoic acids (NMID) are an excellent
example of my good fortune with “samples of opportunity”. While
vacationing at the seashore with relatives I picked up some moon snails
because I observed that they were carnivores and showed great interest
in eating the local clams. Capillary column study of the fatty acid
11