Objective: To develop a method for the determination of oleic acid in the Capra hircus or Ovis aries

an adjuvant of processing. Method: The GC separation was performed on a HP-5 quartz capillary column (0.25 μm×0.25 mm×30 m) and the initial temperature was programmed from 100℃ to 180℃ at 8℃·min-1 and kept for 3 min

then raised to 230℃ at 2℃·min-1

inject temperature was set at 230℃

carrier gas was N2(99.99%). The flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1 and split injection was conducted with split radio of 20: 1.Preparation of the test solution:0.4 g suet oil was taken

then 0.5 mol·L-1 of KOH-methanol solution 15 mL was added at 60℃ for 30 min. After cooled

14% BF3-ether solution of 10 mL was added at 60℃ maintaining 5 min

placed

it was cooled to room temperature

10 mL n-hexane and 10 mL saturated aqueous NaCl solution were added

standed

and the supernatant was separated. Cetane was used as internal standard and measured to compare. Result: The standard curves of oleic acid was linear within the range of 2.02-10.12 μg. The coefficient were 0.999 8.It contains not less than 6.0 per cent of oleic acid

tentatively

calculated with reference to the dried drug. Conclusion: This method is accurate

reliable and repeatable.It can be used to control the quality of oleic acid in the suet oil.