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Identification of optimum fatty acid extraction methods for two different microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Haematococcus pluvialis for food and biodiesel applications

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Abstract

Microalgae have the potential to synthesize and accumulate lipids which contain high value fatty acids intended for nutrition and biodiesel applications. Nevertheless, lipid extraction methods for microalgae cells are not well established and there is not a standard analytical methodology to extract fatty acids from lipid-producing microalgae. In this paper, current lipid extraction procedures employing organic solvents (chloroform/methanol, 2:1 and 1:2, v/v), sodium hypochlorite solution (NaClO), acid-catalysed hot-water extraction and the saponification process [2.5 M KOH/methanol (1:4, v/v)] have been evaluated with two species of microalgae with different types of cell walls. One is a marine diatom, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and the other a freshwater green microalga, Haematococcus pluvialis. Lipids from all types of extracts were estimated gravimetrically and their fatty acids were quantified by a HPLC equipped with Q-TOF mass spectrometer. Results indicated significant differences both in lipids yield and fatty acids composition. The chloroform and methanol mixture was the most effective extraction solvent for the unsaturated fatty acids such as DPA (C22:05), DHA, (C22:06), EPA (C20:05) and ARA (C20:04). While acid treatments improved the saturated fatty acids (SFAs) yield, especially the short chain SFA, lauric acid (C12:0), whose amount was 64% higher in P. tricornutum and 156% higher in H. pluvialis compared to organic solvent extractions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Irish Research Council (Grant No. GOIPD/2015/681) and an Enterprise Ireland Innovation partnership grant (Grant No. IP/2013/0439). Paz Otero is recipient of a Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Award 2015 (GOIPD/2015/681).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, Limerick Institute of Technology, Moylish Park, Limerick, Ireland

    Paz Otero, Sushanta Kumar Saha, Joanne Mc Gushin, Siobhan Moane & Patrick Murray

  2. Reagecon Diagnostics Limited Shannon Free Zone, Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland

    John Barron

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  1. Paz Otero
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  2. Sushanta Kumar Saha
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  3. Joanne Mc Gushin
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  4. Siobhan Moane
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Correspondence to Paz Otero.

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Otero, P., Saha, S.K., Gushin, J.M. et al. Identification of optimum fatty acid extraction methods for two different microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Haematococcus pluvialis for food and biodiesel applications. Anal Bioanal Chem 409, 4659–4667 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0412-9

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