EN ISO 12966-2:2017

• Abstract:

  ISO 12966-2:2017 specifies methods of preparing the methyl esters of fatty acids.; It includes methods for preparing fatty acid methyl esters from animal and vegetable fats and oils, fatty acids and soaps. To cover different requirements, four methylation methods are specified, namely:; a) a "rapid" transmethylation procedure under alkaline conditions;; b) a "general" transmethylation/methylation procedure under sequential alkaline and acid conditions;; c) a BF3 transmethylation procedure;; d) an alternative procedure using acid-catalysed transmethylation of glycerides.; Methyl esters so produced are used in various analytical procedures requiring such derivatives, e.g. gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and infrared spectrometry (IR). ; Milk and milk products (or fat coming from milk and milk products) are excluded from the scope of this document.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 25-Apr-2017
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Oct-2017
• ICS: 67.200.10 - Animal and vegetable fats and oils
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 307 - Oilseeds, vegetables and animal fats and oils and their by-products - Methods of sampling and analys
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 307 - Oilseeds, vegetables and animal fats and oils and their by-products - Methods of sampling and analys
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 26-Apr-2017
• Completion Date: 26-Apr-2017
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 12966-2:2017 - Animal and vegetable fats and oils - Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters - Part 2: Preparation of methyl esters of fatty acids (ISO 12966-2:2017)

• Replaces: EN ISO 12966-2:2011 - Animal and vegetable fats and oils - Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters - Part 2: Preparation of methyl esters of fatty acids (ISO 12966-2:2011)
• Effective Date: 08-Jun-2022
• Refers: ISO 661:2003 - Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Preparation of test sample
• Effective Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Consolidated By: ISO 12966-2:2017 - Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters — Part 2: Preparation of methyl esters of fatty acids
• Effective Date: 12-Feb-2026

Overview

EN ISO 12966-2:2017 - "Animal and vegetable fats and oils - Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters - Part 2: Preparation of methyl esters of fatty acids" (CEN adopted) specifies validated procedures for preparing fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from animal and vegetable fats and oils, fatty acids and soaps. The standard defines four methylation/transmethylation routes to produce FAMEs suitable for downstream analysis by gas chromatography (GC/GLC), thin‑layer chromatography (TLC) and infrared spectrometry (IR). Note: milk and milk products are excluded from this edition.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability
  • Methods designed for a wide range of edible and technical fats and oils, including distillates and acid oils (except milk fats).
• Four specified methylation/transmethylation methods
  • Rapid alkaline transmethylation - quick alkali-catalysed conversion of glycerides in anhydrous methanol; suitable for routine analyses including short-chain fatty acids (e.g., C4:0, C6:0) when an internal standard is used.
  • General sequential (alkaline then acid) method - combines alkali and acid steps to esterify both esterified and free fatty acids; applicable to challenging samples.
  • BF3 (boron trifluoride) transmethylation - acid-catalysed procedure using BF3 reagents for robust methylation in specific matrices.
  • Acid‑catalysed transmethylation of glycerides - alternative acid methylation route for glyceride-rich samples.
• Analytical considerations
  • Importance of excess anhydrous methanol to drive equilibrium toward FAMEs.
  • Water impedes completeness (hydrolysis, soaps formation); sample drying and water control are required.
  • Alkali catalysis does not esterify free fatty acids (soaps may form); sequential acid steps or BF3 are used when free fatty acids are present.
  • Guidance on reagents, apparatus, procedural steps and completeness checks (e.g., TLC annex for derivatization verification).
• Quality and reproducibility
  • Procedures include sample preparation, reagent handling and precautions to avoid artefact formation or isomerization that would bias GC results.

Applications and users

• Who uses the standard
  • Analytical chemists, food testing and regulatory laboratories, oil & fat industry quality control, research labs assessing lipid composition.
• Typical applications
  • Preparation of FAMEs for GC-based fatty acid profiling, authenticity testing, nutritional labelling, process monitoring, and research on lipid composition.
  • Pre‑treatment step for TLC and IR analyses where methyl esters improve chromatographic and spectrometric performance.

Related standards

• EN ISO 12966 is a multipart series; other parts cover GC analysis, column selection and identification/quantification of FAMEs (see ISO/CEN publications for the complete ISO 12966 series).

Keywords: EN ISO 12966-2:2017, fatty acid methyl esters, FAMEs, transmethylation, methylation, BF3, gas chromatography, animal and vegetable fats and oils, sample preparation.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2017
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN ISO 12966-2:2011
5DVWOLQVNHLQåLYDOVNHPDãþREHLQROMD3OLQVNDNURPDWRJUDILMDPHWLOQLKHVWURY
PDãþREQLKNLVOLQGHO3ULSUDYDPHWLOQLKHVWURYPDãþREQLKNLVOLQ,62

Animal and vegetable fats and oils - Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters -
Part 2: Preparation of methyl esters of fatty acids (ISO 12966-2:2017)
Tierische und pflanzliche Fette und Öle - Gaschromatographie von
Fettsäuremethylestern - Teil 2: Herstellung von Fettsäuremethylestern (ISO 12966-
2:2017)
Corps gras d'origines animale et végétale - Chromatographie en phase gazeuse des
esters méthyliques d'acides gras - Partie 2: Préparation des esters méthyliques d'acides
gras (ISO 12966-2:2017)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 12966-2:2017
ICS:
67.200.10 5DVWOLQVNHLQåLYDOVNH Animal and vegetable fats
PDãþREHLQROMD and oils
71.040.50 Fizikalnokemijske analitske Physicochemical methods of
metode analysis
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 12966-2
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
April 2017
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 67.200.10 Supersedes EN ISO 12966-2:2011
English Version
Animal and vegetable fats and oils - Gas chromatography
of fatty acid methyl esters - Part 2: Preparation of methyl
esters of fatty acids (ISO 12966-2:2017)
Corps gras d'origines animale et végétale - Tierische und pflanzliche Fette und Öle -
Chromatographie en phase gazeuse des esters Gaschromatographie von Fettsäuremethylestern - Teil
méthyliques d'acides gras - Partie 2: Préparation des 2: Herstellung von Fettsäuremethylestern (ISO 12966-
esters méthyliques d'acides gras (ISO 12966-2:2017) 2:2017)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 3 April 2017.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2017 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 12966-2:2017 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 12966-2:2017) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 34 “Food
products” in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 307 “Oilseeds, vegetable and animal fats
and oils and their by-products - Methods of sampling and analysis” the secretariat of which is held by
AFNOR.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by October 2017 and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by October 2017.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 12966-2:2011.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 12966-2:2017 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 12966-2:2017 without any
modification.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12966-2
Second edition
2017-03
Animal and vegetable fats and oils —
Gas chromatography of fatty acid
methyl esters —
Part 2:
Preparation of methyl esters of fatty
acids
Corps gras d’origines animale et végétale — Chromatographie en
phase gazeuse des esters méthyliques d’acides gras —
Partie 2: Préparation des esters méthyliques d’acides gras
Reference number
ISO 12966-2:2017(E)
©
ISO 2017
ISO 12966-2:2017(E)
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

ISO 12966-2:2017(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Reactions . 1
5 Methodology . 2
5.1 Preparation of test sample . 2
5.2 Rapid method . 2
5.2.1 Applicability . 2
5.2.2 Principle . 2
5.2.3 Reagents . 3
5.2.4 Apparatus . 3
5.2.5 Procedure . 3
5.3 General method . 4
5.3.1 Applicability . 4
5.3.2 Principle . 4
5.3.3 Reagents . 4
5.3.4 Apparatus and materials . 5
5.3.5 Procedure . 5
5.4 Transmethylation using boron trifluoride (BF ) catalyst . 6
5.4.1 Principle . 6
5.4.2 Applicability . 6
5.4.3 Reagents . 6
5.4.4 Apparatus . 7
5.4.5 Procedure . 8
5.5 Acid-catalysed transmethylation of glycerides . 9
5.5.1 Principle . 9
5.5.2 Reagents . 9
5.5.3 Apparatus .10
5.5.4 Preparation of test sample .10
5.5.5 Procedure .10
Annex A (informative) Thin-layer chromatography method for testing the completeness
of derivatization .11
Bibliography .15
ISO 12966-2:2017(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: w w w . i s o .org/ iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 34, Food products, Subcommittee SC 11,
Animal and vegetable fats and oils.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 12966-2:2011), of which it constitutes a
minor revision.
The changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— milk and milk fat products have been excluded from the scope.
A list of all the parts in the ISO 12966 series can be found on the ISO website.
iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

ISO 12966-2:2017(E)
Introduction
General
Oils and fats (i.e. liquid and solid lipids) are predominantly composed of fatty acid esters of glycerol
(triacylglycerols, TAGs), with smaller amounts of fatty acid esters of sterols and long chain of aliphatic
alcohols. Due to the high molecular mass of the TAGs and their consequent low volatility, they are
difficult to analyse directly by gas chromatography (GC), especially if a detailed analysis of unsaturated
fatty acids is required. Fatty acids themselves do not chromatograph well (except for short-chain-length
fatty acids, e.g. butanoic and pentanoic acids). It is therefore better practice to form fatty acid esters,
usually the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), prior to GC.
The analysis of oils and fats has been extensively reviewed in Reference [9].
The formation of FAMEs is a critical stage in the analysis of fatty acids. Non-quantitative conversion
of fatty acids to FAMEs, modification of the structure of fatty acids (e.g. changes in positional and
geometric isomers present) and formation of non-FAME artefacts may all affect the quantitative
determination of fatty acid composition.
Transesterification is one mechanism which can be employed to form FAMEs from fatty acid esters in
fats (i.e. triacylglycerol). Alkali- or acid-catalysed transesterification procedures can be used to form
FAMEs in a methanolic medium; the procedure can be termed transmethylation. Transmethylation is
a reversible process and a large excess of methanol is required to maintain an equilibrium position
which favours formation of the FAMEs. Water can prevent the reaction going to completion, and its
presence should therefore be minimized. Alkali-catalysed procedures do not produce FAMEs from free
fatty acids, due to the formation of soaps.
Esterification is an acid-catalysed mechanism which can be employed to form FAMEs from fatty acids.
It is possible that the fatty acids are naturally present in the sample of fat under examination. Formation
of FAMEs by this mechanism is commonly termed methylation. Again, an excess of methanol and the
absence of water are preconditions for the quantitative formation of FAMEs.
This document provides guidelines for the preparation of fatty acid methyl esters. In support of these
guidelines, various procedures to prepare fatty acid methyl esters are specified. These include the
following:
a) “rapid” transmethylation under alkaline conditions;
b) “general” transmethylation/methylation under sequential alkaline and acid conditions;
c) boron trifluoride (BF ) transmethylation/methylation.
“Rapid” transmethylation method under alkali-catalysed conditions
This method is applicable to the routine analysis of edible fats and oils containing fatty acids down to
butanoic acid (C4:0) and/or for the determination of butanoic acid or hexanoic acid (C6:0) by GC using
an internal standard.
Alkaline catalysts transesterify neutral lipids in the presence of anhydrous methanol (transmethylation)
more rapidly than acid catalysts. The disadvantages of such alkali-catalysed procedures are that free
fatty acids are not esterified, and the presence of water may prevent the transmethylation going to
completion (hydrolysis of the FAMEs to free fatty acids). The most commonly used reagents are
potassium and sodium hydroxide and sodium methoxide in the presence of anhydrous methanol.
“General” transmethylation/methylation under sequential alkaline and acid conditions
This method under sequential alkali- and acid-catalysed conditions is applicable to all oils and fats
including distillate and acid oils, but is not recommended for lauric oils. Short-chain fatty acid methyl
esters are easily lost during reflux. For lauric acid oils, the “rapid” transmethylation method is
recommended.
ISO 12966-2:2017(E)
During methylation, substances containing the following configurations can be totally or partially
decomposed:
a) keto, epoxy, hydroxyl, hydroperoxy groups;
b) cyclopropyl and cyclopropenyl groups;
c) acetylenic fatty acids.
Boron trifluoride (BF ) transmethylation/methylation
Owing to the toxicity of BF it is recommended that this method only be used in extremis.
The BF method is applicable for most oils, fats and derivatives (fatty acids, soaps) with the exception of
milk fats and fats containing fatty acids with specific groups.
During methylation, substances containing the following configurations can be totally or partially
decomposed:
a) keto, epoxy, hydroxyl, hydroperoxy groups;
b) cyclopropyl and cyclopropenyl groups;
c) acetylenic fatty acids.
If the fatty matter contains such substances in only very small amounts (e.g. cottonseed oil), the method
can be applied; otherwise, the “rapid” or “general” transmethylation/methylation methods should be
followed.
For GC, the optimum recovery of the methyl esters from the reaction mixture is obtained by using
isooctane (2,2,4-trimethylpentane). However, only about 75 % of the methyl caproate present is
recovered.
Boron trifluoride is a strong Lewis acid, and in the form of its coordination complex with methanol, under
reflux conditions, it can rapidly methylate fatty acids. Methanolic boron trifluoride does transmethylate
fatty acid esters (e.g. triglyceride), but the rate of reaction is slower than the methylation of fatty acids.
Methanolic boron trifluoride solution is commercially available, which enhances the attractiveness of
this acid catalyst, but there are potential disadvantages associated with the use of this reagent.
a) It has been reported that high concentrations of boron trifluoride (50 % mass fraction) produce
methoxy artefacts from unsaturated fatty acids.
b) The reagent has a limited shelf-life at ambient temperature and should be kept refrigerated.
c) Aged reagent can produce artefacts and therefore, it is recommended that each new batch
purchased be tested before use and periodically during its lifetime.
d) Methanolic boron trifluoride is an acidic reagent and therefore can produce derivatives of fatty
acids containing labile groups which can give rise to spurious peaks on FAME chromatograms.
Additional information
Much attention has been given to the preparation and analysis of esters of short-chain fatty acids by GC,
largely because of their occurrence in milk fats. Short-chain fatty acids, in the free state or esterified to
glycerol, can be converted completely to methyl esters by any of the reagents described in the preceding
paragraphs, but quantitative recovery from the reaction medium may not be achieved unless special
precautions are taken. Losses can occur at several stages in any procedure. Short-chain fatty acid esters
(methyl especially) are volatile and may be lost selectively on refluxing the esterification medium;
they are more soluble in water than longer-chain esters and can be lost in an aqueous extraction step
or they may be distilled off when the extracting solvent is evaporated. Selective losses can also occur
if non-saponifiable impurities have to be removed by sublimation or thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
purification. The best esterification procedures for short-chain fatty acids are those in which heating of
the reagents is avoided and in which stages involving aqueous extraction and solvent removal are absent.
vi © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

ISO 12966-2:2017(E)
Injection of reaction media containing basic and acidic esterification catalysts directly on to GC
columns shortens their working lives. The top few centimetres of packed columns can be replenished
periodically, while lengths of deactivated tubing or “retention gaps” ahead of capillary columns protect
them. This can be a small price to pay for the speed, simplicity and accuracy of these procedures.
Additionally, this document gives a simple TLC procedure to check the effectiveness of the
transmethylation/methylation. This procedure may also be used to check the generic composition of an
oil or fat before transmethylation/methylation is undertaken.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12966-2:2017(E)
Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Gas chromatography
of fatty acid methyl esters —
Part 2:
Preparation of methyl esters of fatty acids
1 Scope
This document specifies methods of preparing the methyl esters of fatty acids.
It includes methods for preparing fatty acid methyl esters from animal and vegetable fats and oils, fatty
acids and soaps. To cover different requirements, four methylation methods are specified, namely:
a) a “rapid” transmethylation procedure under alkaline conditions;
b) a “general” transmethylation/methylation procedure under sequential alkaline and acid conditions;
c) a BF transmethylation procedure;
d) an alternative procedure using acid-catalysed transmethylation of glycerides.
Methyl esters so produced are used in various analytical procedures requiring such derivatives, e.g.
gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and infrared spectrometry (IR).
Milk and milk products (or fat coming from milk and milk products) are excluded from the scope of this
document.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 661, Animal and vegetable fats and oils — Preparation of test sample
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http:// www .iso .org/ obp
4 Reactions
The determination of the fatty acid composition of oils and fats is one of the fundamental analyses
within the fats and oils sector and has been extensively reviewed in Reference [9]. For this purpose, the
fatty acid components of lipids are usually converted to methyl esters followed by GC analysis.
The “rapid” method (5.2) does not derivatize free fatty acids (FFAs) present in oil to fatty acid methyl
esters (FAMEs). If FFAs are present, the assumption is usually made that the FFAs have the same fatty
ISO 12966-2:2017(E)
acid distribution as the triglycerides. This is usually true for crude oils, but less so for fractionated or
refined oils. Except for some cold-pressed oils, as a general rule, oils with <0,5 % mass fraction FFAs
have probably been refined; oils above can be assumed to be crude. The tolerable concentration of FFAs
in oil depends on the particular oil being analysed and also the intended use of the FAME data generated.
The presence of FFAs in oil might introduce additional peaks on the final gas chromatogram and make
the identification of FAMEs synthesized using the “rapid” transmethylation procedure problematic.
The “general” (5.3) procedure derivatizes both FFAs and glyceryl esters to FAMEs (see 5.3.1).
It is up to the analyst to decide whether the use of either the “rapid” or “general” procedure is
appropriate based on the nature of the oil being analysed. This notwithstanding, as a general rule,
use of the “rapid” method is suggested only if the FFA content is ≤0,5 % mass fraction. The “general”
method (5.3) is suggested for oils with an FFA content >0,5 % mass fraction. Alternatively, if a partially
hydrolysed fat is to be converted to FAMEs, the acid-catalysed transmethylation procedure specified in
5.5 may be used.
Owing to the toxicity of BF , it is recommended that the BF method (5.4) be used only in extremis.
3 3
5 Methodology
WARNING — The method specified involves the use of potentially hazardous reagents. Normal
precautions shall be taken for eye protection and for protection from the dangers of corrosive
chemical burns. Methanolic potassium hydroxide solution is poisonous.
5.1 Preparation of test sample
The test sample shall be liquid, dry and clear. Proceed in accordance with ISO 661, but heat the sample
to just above the melting point.
5.2 Rapid method
5.2.1 Applicability
This rapid transmethylation method, under alkali-catalysed conditions, is applicable to the routine
analysis of edible fats and oils containing fatty acids down to butanoic acid (C4:0) and/or for the
determination of butanoic acid or hexanoic acid (C6:0) by GC using an internal standard.
This procedure does not derivatize FFAs to FAMEs. The analyst should note that the presence of FFAs in
the fi
...