Isolation of Jatropha curcas Oil Based Linoleic Acid by Using Argentation Column Chromatography

Argentation column chromatography is a method used for separating similar molecules such as fatty acids which have slightly different stereochemistry. In this study, silver nitrate-impregnated silica gel was used as the adsorbent to isolate and purify Jatropha curcas oil fatty acids mixtures. The effects of silica gel, silver nitrate, adsorbent quantity, and fatty acid quantity on the purity and recovery percentage, as well as the ratio of linoleic acid to oleic acid, were investigated. The results showed that at the optimal condition of purification, the purity of linoleic acid increased from 38.4% to 78.7%. In the isolation process, linoleic acid adsorbed most strongly on the AgNO3/SiO2 adsorbent followed by oleic acid due to the greater number of the double bond and high ability to form polar charge-transfer complexes.