Simultaneous HPLC analysis of palm carotenoids and tocopherols using a C-30 column and photodiode array detector

An HPLC method for simultaneous identification and quantitation of tocopherols and carotenoids in red palm oil was developed. A C-30 column was used in a HPLC equipped with a photodiode detector and with methyl tertiary-butyl ether/ methanol/water as the mobile phase. Tocopherols and carotenoids were monitored at 295 nm and 450 nm, respectively. Gradient elution resulted in complete separation of five tocopherols such as alpha-, delta-, gamma-tocopherols and tocotrienols in palm oil in less than 10 minutes. Several (13) carotenoids were also detected and quantitated in red palm oil within 45 minutes.