Non-invasive methods for measuring lipid content in live microalgal cultures and quantification of fatty acids in wet microalgae biomass are both needed for algal biofuel research and development. A non-destructive method requiring minimal sample preparation was developed utilizing liquid state �H NMR for quantifying triacylglycerides (TAGs) in live algae cultures. This procedure was tested for measuring neutral lipid contents in algae, cyanobacteria and yeast with satisfactory results.  Another complementary method was also developed for determining total lipid contents.  This method overcomes the drawback of traditional extraction-methylation method for its incomplete extraction which might underestimate the biodiesel potential of microalgae. This new in-situ method can also tolerate high content of water in microalgae biomass without introducing any water scavenger so that fresh microalgae can be applied directly by employing this method.

Fatty acid quantification from live and wet microalgae biomass

245th National Meeting (2013)

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