Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry of <i>Quassia undulata</i> Seed Oil

Abstract

The use of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC MS) as a sensitive and specific technique for the separation and identification of fatty acids has drawn the interest of many biodiesel producers as a means of identifying the fatty acid profiles of oil seeds, monitoring the reaction process and determining the relative amount of each component. In this research, the GC MS of Quassia undulata seed oil revealed the following major fatty acids with their percentage occurrences: 6-octadecanoic acid (46.36%), octadecanoic acid (33.44%), hexadecanoic acid (10.45%) and 11- nonadecanoic acid (5.70%). The other fatty acids occurred as minor components. The result indicates that 6-octadecanoic, a monounsaturated fatty acid is the most abundant component in Quassia undulata seed oil. Secondly, the unique combination of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids will have a positive influence on both the cold flow properties and stability of the fuel to oxidation, peroxidation and polymerization reactions. The revealed fatty acids and their percentage occurrences, therefore, affirm the suitability of Quassia undulata seed oil as a potential non-edible feedstock for the production of a high quality biodiesel.

Keywords: Quassia undulata, GC MS, Biodiesel, Gbur, seed oil, Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry