ISO 5508-1990 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 5508:1990 — Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Analysis by gas chromatography of methyl esters of fatty acids. This International Standard gives guidance on the gas‑liquid chromatographic (GLC/GC) analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) prepared from fats and oils for qualitative and quantitative determination of fatty‑acid composition.

Abstract

Provides general guidance for the application of gas‑liquid chromatography to determine the qualitative and quantitative composition of a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters obtained according to ISO 5509 (preparation of methyl esters). The method as published is intended for packed columns with flame‑ionization detection and is not applicable to polymerized or severely oxidized fatty acids. ISO 5508:1990 has been withdrawn and the subject matter is covered by the ISO 12966 series (notably ISO 12966‑1:2014 and ISO 12966‑4:2015).

General information

• Status: Withdrawn.
• Publication date: September 1990.
• Publisher: ISO (International Organization for Standardization).
• ICS / categories: 67.200.10 (Animal and vegetable fats and oils).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (1990).
• Number of pages: 7 pages.

Basic bibliographic and lifecycle details as recorded by ISO identify ISO 5508:1990 as withdrawn and superseded by the ISO 12966 suite.

Scope

ISO 5508:1990 described principles and practical considerations for chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters derived from animal and vegetable fats and oils. It covered identification and quantification using gas chromatography (GLC/GC), recommended detectors (flame‑ionization), and the use of packed columns (as published). The standard explicitly excluded polymerized fatty acids and was written to be used together with the methyl‑ester preparation method given in ISO 5509. The methodological content has since been updated and reorganized in the ISO 12966 series.

Key topics and requirements

• Principle: analysis of fatty acids after conversion to methyl esters (FAMEs) and separation by gas chromatography.
• Sample preparation: reliance on methyl‑ester preparation procedures (see ISO 5509) to generate FAMEs suitable for GC analysis.
• Chromatographic hardware: guidance for packed‑column gas chromatography as published; flame‑ionization detector (FID) recommended for quantification.
• Identification: peak identification by retention time comparison with standards; care with coelutions and isomeric peaks.
• Quantification: use of internal or external standards and appropriate calibration to determine relative and absolute contents of fatty acids.
• Limitations: not applicable to polymerized or heavily oxidized fatty acids; some matrices and short‑chain fatty acids may require alternative procedures or detectors.
• Reporting: recommended reporting of chromatographic conditions, column type, detector, calibration method and conversion factors used.

Typical use and users

Used historically by analytical and quality‑control laboratories in the edible‑oils and fats industry, food‑testing laboratories, academic and research institutions, and regulatory agencies for the compositional analysis of vegetable and animal fats and oils. Typical roles include routine compositional profiling, certification of oil quality, research on fatty‑acid composition, and methods development prior to adoption of more modern capillary GC techniques. With the publication of ISO 12966 series, many laboratories now follow the updated methods.

Related standards

Key related and successor standards: ISO 5509 — Preparation of methyl esters of fatty acids (method for preparing FAMEs used with ISO 5508). ISO 12966 series — Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters (ISO 12966‑1:2014 Guidelines and ISO 12966‑4:2015 Capillary GC determination), which supersede ISO 5508:1990.

Keywords

ISO 5508, fatty acid methyl esters, FAME, gas chromatography, GLC, packed column, flame‑ionization detector, FID, animal and vegetable fats and oils, methyl esters, ISO 5509, ISO 12966.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 5508:1990 is an international standard titled "Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Analysis by gas chromatography of methyl esters of fatty acids" that provided guidance on GC analysis of FAMEs prepared from fats and oils.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covered chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (identification and quantification), recommended use of packed columns and flame‑ionization detection, and referenced FAME preparation procedures (ISO 5509). It excluded polymerized and severely oxidized fatty acids.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Analytical laboratories in the edible‑oil and food sectors, research institutions, and regulatory labs used ISO 5508 for fatty‑acid profiling and quality control before being superseded by more recent methods.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 5508:1990 has been withdrawn. Its subject matter is now covered by the ISO 12966 series; in particular ISO 12966‑1:2014 and ISO 12966‑4:2015 are the modern references for GC analysis of FAMEs and capillary GC determination respectively. Laboratories should use the ISO 12966 parts for current methods.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 5508 itself was a standalone method but was related to ISO 5509 (preparation of methyl esters). The modern, consolidated series is ISO 12966 (multiple parts covering guidelines, preparation methods and capillary GC determination).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Gas chromatography, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), methyl esters, edible oils, flame‑ionization detector (FID), packed columns, ISO 5509, ISO 12966.