Thermogravimetry and Py-GC/MS techniques as fast qualitative methods for comparing the biochemical composition of Nannochloropsis oculata samples obtained under different culture conditions.

F Valdés, L Catalá, M R Hernández, J C García-Quesada, A Marcilla

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Alicante, Ap. 99, P.O. Box 03080, Spain.

Bioresource technology 2013 Mar

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Microalgae have many applications, such as biodiesel production or food supplement. Depending on the application, the optimization of certain fractions of the biochemical composition (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) is required. Therefore, samples obtained in different culture conditions must be analyzed in order to compare the content of such fractions. Nevertheless, traditional methods necessitate lengthy analytical procedures with prolonged sample turn-around times. Results of the biochemical composition of Nannochloropsis oculata samples with different protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents obtained by conventional analytical methods have been compared to those obtained by thermogravimetry (TGA) and a Pyroprobe device connected to a gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer detector (Py-GC/MS), showing a clear correlation. These results suggest a potential applicability of these techniques as fast and easy methods to qualitatively compare the biochemical composition of microalgal samples. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

F Valdés, L Catalá, M R Hernández, J C García-Quesada, A Marcilla. Thermogravimetry and Py-GC/MS techniques as fast qualitative methods for comparing the biochemical composition of Nannochloropsis oculata samples obtained under different culture conditions. Bioresource technology. 2013 Mar;131:86-93