IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FATTY ACIDS METHYL ESTHERS (FAMEs) FROM Spirogyra species

Abstract

Extraction, identification and characterization of lipid constituents from Spirogyra spp. algal oil using Gas Chromatography and Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was carried out to determine itsindustrial applications. The algal oil extracted from Spirogyra spp.biomass obtained from bold basal media (BBM) collected from Tubu River was investigated. The algal lipids obtained from the biomass via Soxhlet extraction method and converted to biodiesel via esterification reaction afforded twenty nine (29) known fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs). The constituents of these volatile fatty acids present inSpirogyra spp.biodiesel sample have been found to be compatible with petro-diesel. This realization may suggest for the rationale to use the biodiesel produceby this species as an alternative for petro-diesel.Unsaturated and saturated FAMEs identified from Spirogyra spp. algal oil could be useful in industrial processes and can serve as alternative renewable energy source to diesel.