Lipid analysis - a 20th century success?

Lipid analysis, providing an understanding of chemistry and structure, begins in Continental Europe during the 18th century. However, it necessarily takes until the mid 20th century before methodology develops sufficiently for the production of fast accurate and quantitative data. Up to 1922 analytical methodology relies on good observation and painstaking care, but only achieves bulk properties. Key early workers are Tachen and Scheele, followed by the great Chevreul, while Pelouze and Berthelot later added to his work. Thus by 1900 we had knowledge of the basic structure and composition of fat, enabling Lewkowitsch to publish manuals of data and simple analytical methodology in 1901 and 1922. Hilditch, in the UK from 1925 to 1952, much improved analytical methods and knowledge, leading to publication of the major work, The Chemical Constitution of Natural Fats. In 1951 Martin and James published the key development of gas chromatography. It led to rapid advancement of knowledge in structure, chemistry and biochemistry of lipid. Parallel and future develoments in thin layer and high performance liquid chromatography complemented this. Other developments, in particular NMR and mass spectrometry, have created an exciting completion to the success of 20th century lipid analysis. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.