Re: How do I find the number of carbons in specific fats?

Dear Jessica,

Different oils indeed contain different sorts and composition of fatty
acids. Perhaps it is easiest to obtain information on the analysis of fats
at a margerine (butter) factory with a laboraty in your region.
Personally, I would analyze the composition using a gas chromatograph
combined with a mass spectrometer. The acids are evaporated in the
chromatograph and separated on their difference in retention time in the
tube. Subsequently the different fractions will be ionized and the
fragmentation pattern of the ions can be analyzed in a mass spectrometer.
The combination of these two techniques is quite standard and easy to use
for volatile compounds, such as fatty acids.
The GC-MS analysis will give you information on the composition of the
mixture as well as on the different masses (eg number of carbons) in the
fractions of the mixture.
Hopefully this answers your question.

Yours sincerely,

J. van der Rijt, MSc