Obtención y determinación de ácidos grasos de muy elevada masa molecular

Abstract

Very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) are the principal component of lipids where they exist. Their diversity in terms of chain length, the degree of unsaturation, geometry, and position of double bonds, as well as the presence of other functionalities, define their characteristics and possible applications. An overview and some important considerations about classic and modern methods of extraction and purification of VLCFA for both, the analytic and the industrial scale such as: solvent, soxhlet, batch, ultrasonic, microwave and supercritical fluid extractions was presented. The employment of natural waxes, mainly the vegetables, as a source for obtaining those acids was reported. In that sense, the isolation of a reproducible batch to batch mixture of VLCFA (C_24:0 to C_36:0) from sugar cane wax, called D003, for the first time used as a potential drug for managing atherotrombothic diseases was exemplified. This review also summarizes the chromatographic methods that are available for obtaining VLCFA profiles and the specific applications that have been reported for them. These substances are currently more frequently determined by capillary gas liquid chromatography (GC) of the methyl esters which are prepared by a variety of methods, including the acid- and base-catalyzed reactions. The more recently development on-column or pyrolytic and other derivatization methods as well as their limitations and advantages were also pointed out. It appears that the majority of these methods function quite well when care is taken to use them properly.