Gas Chromatography

Gas chromatography (GC) has many applications in the analysis of food products. A common GC application is fatty acid profile analysis, to meet the nutrition labeling requirements for total fat and saturated fat. This laboratory exercise involves solvent fat extraction, followed by saponification and then methylation with boron trifluoride to form fatty acid methyl esters. The sample is then subjected to GC analysis, with quantification and identification made possible using a reference standard.