Determination of Fatty Acids from Freshwater Fish Oils Using GC-MS Method

Abstract

Thirteen species of fish (Labeo coubie, Citharinus citharus, Hyperopisus bebe, Mormyrops anguilloides, Mormyrus rume, Orechromis niloticus, Sarotherodon galilaeus, Clarias gariepinus, Clarias anguillaris, Heterobranchus bidorsalis, Clariheterobranchus, Lates niloticus and Hydrocynus forskalii) were studied for their oil fatty acids composition. Identification and quantitative measurement of fish oils fatty acids were carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. GC-MS was applied on fatty acids methyl esters. Fatty acids were identified in order of their retention time. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) formed a large proportion of total lipids. Multi-methyl branched, methyl branched fatty acids contributed a smaller proportion. It can be concluded that these fish oils are excellent sources of essential fatty acids omega-6 and omega-9.

Keywords

• Fatty acids
• Gas chromatography
• Retention time
• Freshwater fish