A rapid method for the preparation of peroxides from autoxidized methyl esters of fatty acids

A new method was devised for the routine preparation of peroxides from crude mixtures of oxidized methyl esters of fatty acids. Based on liquid-liquid partition chromatography, the method employs a column of cellulose powder as the supporting material, methanol as the stationary phase, and petroleum ether as the mobile phase. The procedure offers the advantage of simplicity in the operations and equipment employed, is economical of time, and gives good yields of a highly purified product. It was found to be applicable to the oxidized methyl esters of mixed fatty acids from vegetable oils as well as to the peroxide of methyl linoleate.