The purpose of this study was to develop a method for rapid quantitative and qualitative determination of the oil from microalgae lipid fraction obtained from Nannochloris sp biomass. The lipid fraction was first refluxed with 4% KOH in MeOH (60, 90, 120 min), followed by reaction with 20% BF3 in MeOH, using different times of reflux (90,120, 150 min) for each time of reflux with 4% KOH in MeOH. The FAME samples were analyzed by GC-MS analysis. 120 min reflux with 4% KOH in MeOH, 90 min with 20% BF3 in MeOH and a ratio lipid fraction: 4% KOH in MeOH: 20% BF3 in MeOH=1:20:27, were required to obtain the higher percent of oil in the microalgae lipid fraction. The relevance of the method developed was proved by TGA analysis and by transesterification of a sunflower oil sample in the same conditions.
SUMMARYThe oil content of a number of introduced and local varieties was determined using three nuclear magnetic resonance oil analysers at different centres and compared with results from conventional solvent extraction. Differences were evident between the three centres and between the techniques but in both cases the rankings were similar.
Determination of Essential Oil Content and Composition, Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activities of Pastinaca sativa L. subsp urens (Req. Ex Gordon)