FATTY ACIDS OF ALGA BOTRYOCOCCUS BRAUNII

A natural bloom of Botryococcus braunii Kützing, although rich in lipid, contains only a small quantity (0·014 per cent) of fatty acids. The most abundant fatty acids are palmitic, oleic and an octacosenoic acid; small amounts of α,ω-dicarboxylic acids are also present. These acids have been characterized by gas-liquid chromatography and by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of their methyl esters. Hydrogenation of the methyl esters shows that the monocarboxylic acids range from n-C14 to n-C30, the even numbered acids, especially n-C18, n-C16 and n-C28, predominating. Small quantities of branched acids are also present. The rubber-like material, obtained when Botryococcus is exposed to the atmosphere, has been examined; preliminary data suggest that it has a fatty acid pattern qualitatively similar to that of the fresh alga. © 1970.