Simple TLC-Screening of Acylglycerol Levels in Biodiesel as an Alternative to GC Determination

Thin layer chromatography (TLC) stained with hot acidic p-anisaldehyde, is an interesting, fast, and low-cost technique to monitor main lipid contaminants such as triacylglicerols, diacylglycerols, and monoacylglycerols in biodiesel. These acylglycerols are detectable by the proposed planar chromatographic method, provided the content of the contaminants exceeds the limits recommended by the international norms applicable to biodiesel quality/specification, namely 0.25% in mass for total combined glycerin. The TLC data are confirmed by gas chromatography of the methyl esters of soy oil.