Abstract: The separation performance of columns with different polarities, including HP-5, DB-Wax and SPB-50 column, for 37 fatty acid methy esters (FAMEs) was comparedgas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that these columns allowed FAMEs separation. The peaks of FAMEs with less carbon atoms were separated earlier. FAMEs with the same number of carbon atoms and different degree of saturation were separated in different orders on the stationary phases. SPB-50 column could separate cis/trans, ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids more sufficiently and may be a more suicolumn for complicated FAME sample analysis, especially for functional fatty acids.

Key words: fatty acid methy ester (FAME), HP-5 column, DB-Wax column, SPB-50 column, fish oil, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)