Changes in free fatty acid composition in Chlorella vulgaris at various stages of the life cycle

The aim of the presented work was to determine and calculate the free fatty acid (FFA) total concentration at various stages of Chlorella vulgaris cells cultivated synchronously. The FFA were isolated from cells harvested at given life cycle stages by the use of the SPE method, methylated to methyl esters and analyzed qualitatively and semiquantitavely by GC/MS. The total FFA concentration decreased during the time course of cultivation, the amount of unsaturated FFA decreased, and the concentration of saturated FFA increased. The highest concentration was shown for C16:0. Statistical analysis showed that FFA at various stages of the Chlorella vulgaris life cycle may be grouped in classes which demonstrate similar changes in concentrations when observed during the whole life cycle.