Abstract: An ultra-performance convergence chromatography (UPC2) method was developed and validated for the determination of squalene in vegetable oils. The sample was dissolved in n-hexane, and analyzed directly after filtration. Optimum separation was achieved on a UPC2 HSS C18 SB column (3.0 mm × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. Other parameters were set as follows: back pressure 12.4 MPa, column temperature 50 ℃, injection volume 1.0 μL, and detection wavelength 215 nm. The results showed that complete separation of the analyte was accomplished within 2.5 min, and the method had a good linearity in the range of 0.53-105.00 mg/L (r > 0.999 1). The recovery was between 86.97% and 102.41% with relative standard deviation ranging from 1.3% to 4.1% (n = 8). The limit of detection (RSN = 3) was 0.53 mg/L for squalene. The use of UPC2 with different sample pre-treatment methods to detect actual samples was compared with ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The results showed that UPC2 was more efficient, faster, simpler and cheaper, which could be useful for the rapid and high throughput detection of squalene in oil.

Key words: UPC2, squalene, vegetable oil, comparison of different methods