A method for the analysis of fatty esters employing separation by thin-layer ehromatography and quantitative determination vitl their hydroxamie acids has been developed. Esters of different types are separated on silica gel plates, the spots or zones are scraped from the plates, the esters are extraeted from the silica gel, and the iron hydroxamie aeid complexes are formed. The latter are then measured by eolorimetry.The method is suitable for analysis of mixtures of ordinary, epoxy, monohydroxy, and dihydroxy fatty esters as well as for mixtures of mono-, di-, and triglyeerides.Used in conjunction with gas chromatography this method permits the fatty acid composition of seed oils containing oxygenated fatty acids to be measured in about 3 hours. The amount required for the total analysis is 1 to 10 rag. per determination, depending upon composition.