Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Fraction Research Articles

One-path catalytic supercritical methanothermal production of fatty acid methyl ester fractions from wet microalgae Chlorella vulgaris

Biodiesel production from microalgae requires energy-intensive dewatering before lipid extraction and transesterification. In order to avoid this energy penalty, one-path direct transesterification of wet microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) using supercritical methanol is attempted, for the first time with added heterogeneous catalysts. This methanothermal process was found to be robust, maintaining high fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) fraction yields in a wide range of water content (16–64 mol % water in methanol). Among the eight metal oxide catalysts tested, α-Al2O3 showed the best performance for the reaction, producing 1.4–1.6 times as much FAME fractions compared to non-catalytic reaction in the same moisture range. The present catalysis is found to be not affecting transesterification step, evidenced by the weak effect of surface acidity. Instead, it appears to add extra routes to produce fuel components that fall in the FAME fraction range.

Production of lutein, and polyunsaturated fatty acids by the acidophilic eukaryotic microalga Coccomyxa onubensis under abiotic stress by salt or ultraviolet light

In this study, the effect of abiotic stress on the acidophilic eukaryotic microalga, Coccomyxa onubensis, was analyzed for the production of lutein and PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids). It grows autotrophically at a pH of 2.5. It showed a growth rate of 0.30 d-1, and produced approximately 122.50mg·L-1·d-1 biomass, containing lipids (300.39mgg-1dw), lutein (5.30mgg-1dw), and β-carotene (1.20mgg-1dw). The fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) fraction was 89.70mgg-1dw with abundant palmitic acid (28.70%) and linoleic acid (37.80%). The addition of 100mM NaCl improved the growth rate (0.54 d-1), biomass productivity (243.75mg·L-1·d-1), and lipids accumulation (416.16mgg-1dw). The microalga showed a lutein content of 6.70mgg-1dw and FAME fraction of 118.90mgg-1dw; 68% of the FAMEs were PUFAs. However, when 200-500mM salt was added, its growth was inhibited but there was a significant induction of lutein (up to 7.80mgg-1dw). Under continuous illumination with PAR (photosynthetically active radiations)+UVA (ultraviolet A, 8.7Wm-2), C.onubensis showed a growth rate of 0.40d-1, and produced 226.3mg·L-1·d-1 biomass, containing lipids, (487.26mgg-1dw), lutein (7.07mgg-1dw), and FAMEs (232.9mgg-1dw); 48.4% of the FAME were PUFAs. The illumination with PAR+UVB (ultraviolet B, 0.16Wm-2) was toxic for cells. These results indicate that C.onubensis biomass is suitable as a supplement for functional foods and/or source of high added value products.

Furan fatty acid content and homologue patterns of fresh green matrices

Furan fatty acids (furan-FAs) are valuable antioxidants which are supposed to play an important role in the protection of polyunsaturated fatty acids from getting oxidised. Scattered literature reports indicated that these fatty acids are widely present at low concentrations in various biological and food samples. Here, we determined the furan-FA composition in 35 samples including seven fresh herb matrices, as well as in spinach and grass. Samples were transesterified and furan-FAs were enriched from the fatty acid methyl ester fraction by means of silver ion chromatography followed by analysis with gas chromatography with mass spectrometry operated in selected ion monitoring mode (GC/MS-SIM). The samples featured between one (rosemary) and eight different furan-FAs (curly-leaf parsley). Six saturated and four unsaturated furan-FAs were identified with clear dominance of β,β’-dimethyl-substituted representatives. The total amount of furan-FAs ranged from 15 to 2650 μg/100 g fresh weight with dill, grass and curly-leaf parsley being the richest sources among the sample matrices. The rarely described unsaturated furan-FAs were detected in eight of the nine matrices and were predominant in flat-leaf parsley. Curly-leaf and flat-leaf parsley as well as fresh and deep-frozen spinach samples showed remarkable differences in the furan-FA pattern.

Optimization of enzyme-catalyzed biodiesel production from crude tall oil using Taguchi method

Biodiesel production from crude tall oil (CTO) in presence of a commercial lipase catalyst (Eversa Transform) was optimized using Taguchi method. Process parameters including reaction temperature, molar ratio of CTO to methanol, reaction time, and enzyme dose were examined for their effect on the in-situ esterification of fatty acids (FA) in CTO to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). Fractional distillation was employed to separate the FAME fraction (biodiesel) from the rest of the CTO components. Using Taguchi (L9) Orthogonal Design, the optimum biodiesel yield was statistically predicted and experimentally verified as 97.02% and 96.57%, respectively. The optimal conversion of CTO to crude biodiesel was obtained at 16 h reaction time, 40 °C reaction temperature, 1:1.5 CTO to methanol molar ratio, and 1.0 wt% enzyme dose. The reaction time and CTO to methanol molar ratio were the two most contributing factors for the optimal conversion of CTO to biodiesel.

Characterization of Mycolic Acids in Total Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Fractions from Mycobacterium Species by High Resolution MALDI-TOFMS.

Mycolic acids (MAs) are characteristic components of bacteria in the suborder Corynebacterineae, such as Mycobacterium. MAs are categorized into subclasses based on their functional bases (cyclopropane ring, methoxy, keto, and epoxy group). Since MAs have heterogeneity among bacterial species, analyzing of MAs are required in the chemotaxonomic field. However, their structural analysis is not easy because of their long carbon-chain lengths and several functional groups. In this study, total fatty acid (FA) methyl ester (ME) fraction of M. tuberculosis H37Rv was analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) with a spiral ion trajectory (MALDI spiral-TOFMS). The distributions of carbon-chain length and their relative peak intensities were confirmed with those obtained by analysis of each subclass fraction which was separated from total FA ME fraction using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The observed major peaks were reliably assigned as MAs owing to the high mass accuracy (error<3 ppm). The types of MA subclasses, their distributions of carbon-chain lengths, their relative peak intensities, and the ratio of even- and odd-numbered carbon-chain MAs for the total FA ME fraction were consistent with those of MA subclass fractions. To visualize whole MAs, contour maps of relative peak intensities for whole MAs were created. The contour maps indicated the MA subclasses and their distributions of carbon-chains with relative peak intensities at a glance. Our proposed method allows simple characterization in a short time and thus enables the analysis of large numbers of samples, and it would contribute to the chemotaxonomy.

Lipid Profiling by GC-MS and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Ceiba pentandra Seed Oil

This study was undertaken to investigate Ceiba pentandra seed oil for fatty acid profile and anti inflammatory activity by in vitro and in vivo. GC-MS, membrane stability assay and C-reactive protein estimation were used to evaluate the fatty acid profile and anti inflammatory activity respectively. GC-MS analysis of free fatty acid methyl ester fraction of the C. pentandra seed oil reveals Palmitic acid to be the significant one along with essential fatty acid Linoleic acid. During anti inflammatory, the percentage of membrane stability exhibited by the tested oil was concentration dependent and compared favourably with that of standard Diclofenac. C-reactive protein, an acute phase reactant that reflects low-grade systemic inflammation was decreased significantly by tested oil treatment. These findings demonstrated that essential oil of C. pentandra seeds was a complex mixture of numerous fatty acids and have excellent anti-inflammatory activity, thus have great potential to be used as a source for natural health products.

Simple and rapid characterization of mycolic acids from Dietzia strains by using MALDI spiral-TOFMS with ultra high mass-resolving power

Mycolic acids have been used as important chemotaxonomic markers. In this study, a newly developed matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a spiral ion trajectory (MALDI spiral-TOFMS) was applied to the characterization of mycolic acids of three type strains of validated species belonging to the genus Dietzia (D. papillomatosis 105045(T), D. kunjamensis NBRC 105042(T) and D. timorensis NBRC 104184(T)), by analysis of total fatty acid methyl ester fractions. In addition, owing to the high mass-resolving power of MALDI spiral-TOFMS, adjacent peaks (0.036 Da mass differences) were successfully separated, and weak peaks corresponding to oxygenated mycolic acids were detected. For all samples, the distributions of carbon-chain lengths were mainly in the range of C30-C42 and the average number of carbon-chain lengths was about 37, which agreed reasonably well with reported results for the genus Dietzia. The number of double bonds and/or cyclopropane rings was 0-2. Relative peak intensities of each mycolic acid methyl ester were used to compare the mycolic acids of the three strains. The mycolic acids of D. papillomatosis and D. kunjamensis were characterized by a high content of mycolic acids with 0-1 double bond or cyclopropane ring and an almost equal content of mycolic acids with odd- and even-numbered carbon-chain lengths. In contrast, mycolic acids of D. timorensis were characterized by a high content of mycolic acids with 1-2 double bonds and/or cyclopropane rings with an even-numbered carbon-chain length. By using MALDI spiral-TOFMS, mycolic acids from three type strains of the genus Dietzia were characterized easily and rapidly.

Marine Diatom, Navicula sp. Strain JPCC DA0580 and Marine Green Alga, Chlorella sp. Strain NKG400014 as Potential Sources for Biodiesel Production

Marine diatom, strain JPCC DA0580, and marine green microalga strain NKG400014 were selected as high neutral lipid-producers from marine microalgal culture collection toward biodiesel production. These strains were tentatively identified as Navicula sp. and Chlorella sp., respectively, by 18S rDNA analysis. Growth and lipid accumulation conditions of both strains were analyzed by changing nutrient concentrations in growth media and initial illuminance intensity. The highest productivity of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) reached to 154 mg/L/week for NKG400014 and 185 mg/L/week for JPCC DA0580. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis indicates that FAME fraction from NKG400014 mainly contained 9-12-15-octadecatrienoate (C18:3) and that from JPCC DA0580 mainly contained methyl palmitate (C16:0) and methyl palmitoleate (C16:1). Furthermore, calorimetric analysis revealed that the energy content of strain was 4,233 +/- 55 kcal/kg (i.e., 15.9 +/- 0.2 MJ/kg) for NKG400014 and 6,423 +/- 139 kcal/mg (i.e., 26.9 +/- 0.6 MJ/kg) for JPCC DA0580, respectively. The value from JPCC DA0580 was equivalent to that of coal. The strains NKG400014 and JPCC DA0580 will become a promising resource that can grow as dominant species in the open ocean toward production of both liquid and solid biofuels.

AN EVALUATION OF ANALYTICAL AND INTERPRETATIVE METHODOLOGIES FOR THE EXTRACTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF LIPIDS ASSOCIATED WITH POTTERY SHERDS FROM THE SITE OF SAGALASSOS, TURKEY*

Three lipid analysis methods were applied to extracts of archaeological potsherds from the ancient city of Sagalassos, south‐west Turkey. In the fatty acid methyl ester fraction, obtained by selective transesterification of acylglycerols, the ratio of methyl palmitate to methyl stearate was determined. Secondly, by means of gas chromatography– combustion–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC–C–IRMS), stable carbon isotope ratios were measured for the same methyl esters. Finally, triglyceride composition was determined via high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS). All three methods can be used to trace the origin of animal fat. Agreement between them is reasonable, especially in recognizing ruminant adipose fat. One sample was found to be of dairy origin using both GC–C–IRMS and HPLC–MS. The advantages of the various methods are discussed. Variations in lipid composition were observed between samples from different periods and excavated in diverse areas within the city of Sagalassos.

Determination of lipid A and endotoxin in serum by mass spectroscopy

A quantitative technique for determining lipid A content of endotoxin added to serum by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is described. This technique uses detection of the beta-hydroxymyristic acid content of Salmonella minnesota R595 lipopolysaccharide by selected ion monitoring at atomic mass unit of 315.4 The fatty acids produced on hydrolysis of serum containing lipopolysaccharide were extracted and the methyl esters were made. Silica gel chromatography was used to separate methyl esters of hydroxy fatty acids from other fatty acid methyl esters. Trimethylsilyl ether derivatives of the hydroxy fatty acid methyl ester fraction were quantitated by this technique. As little as 200 fmol of beta-hydroxymyristic acid could be detected.

Variation of triglycerides and fatty acid methyl esters in silkworm eggs during embryonic development

AbstractNeutral lipid composition of silkworm eggs showed remarkable differences with stages of embryonic development, such as one day after oviposition, diapausing, before incubation and before hatching. Large amounts of fatty acid methyl esters were found in lipids of eggs just before hatching, and fatty acid compositions in both triglycerides and fatty acid methyl esters varied with the lapse of time of the embryonic development. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were present in large amounts in fatty acid methyl ester fractions from eggs just before hatching and absent in those from diapausing and 1 day old eggs, while a large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids was present in triglycerides in diapausing and 1 day old eggs and only small amounts were present in eggs just before hatching. The methyl esters were not formed as artifacts from free fatty acids and glycerides in silkworm lipids during the extraction procedure.

柔魚内臓油の成分とその利用に就て

Ultraviolet absorption spectra of the original oil, refined oil and methyl ester of cuttle fish oil, showed the presence of small amount of conjugated dien, trien, tetraen and pentaen fatty acids. But spectrum of the distillated methyl ester showed only the presence of conjugated then and trien, but not of tetraen and pentaen. We found new conjugated eicosadienoic acid in cuttle fish oil, as the maleic acid adduct, which was obtained by the reaction of maleic acid anhydride benzol solution-and C20 fatty acid methyl ester fraction of cuttle fish oil.