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Related Concept Videos

Biofuels01:25

Biofuels

38
The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
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Microbial Growth Measurement: Indirect Methods01:27

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Estimating microbial growth is essential for understanding population dynamics and environmental adaptations. Indirect methods provide valuable insights by measuring parameters such as turbidity, metabolic activity, and biomass, enabling efficient and reproducible assessments.During exponential growth, microbial cells scatter light proportionally to their biomass, a principle used in turbidity measurements. About one million cells per milliliter produce detectable scattering, which a...
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A Simple and Rapid Protocol for Measuring Neutral Lipids in Algal Cells Using Fluorescence
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A quick colorimetric method for total lipid quantification in microalgae.

Avinesh R Byreddy1, Adarsha Gupta1, Colin J Barrow1

  • 1Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, Deakin University, Victoria 3217, Australia.

Journal of Microbiological Methods
|April 7, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A new, rapid colorimetric method using sulfo-phospho-vanillin (SPV) reaction accurately quantifies microbial lipids. This technique accelerates the discovery of high-lipid-producing microalgae for sustainable biodiesel.

Keywords:
AlgaeBiodieselEsterificationIndustrial biotechnologyVanillin

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Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Sustainable biodiesel production relies on identifying microalgae with high lipid productivity.
  • Current lipid quantification methods are often time-consuming and expensive, hindering efficient screening.
  • Developing rapid and cost-effective analytical techniques is crucial for advancing microalgae-based biofuel research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a rapid colorimetric method for quantifying microbial lipids.
  • To facilitate high-throughput screening of microalgae strains for enhanced lipid production.
  • To provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional lipid quantification techniques.

Main Methods:

  • A colorimetric assay based on the sulfo-phospho-vanillin (SPV) reaction was employed for lipid quantification.
  • The SPV method was tested on marine thraustochytrid strains and various vegetable oils.
  • Results from the SPV method were compared against estimates obtained through gravimetric analysis.

Main Results:

  • The SPV colorimetric method demonstrated strong correlation with gravimetric lipid quantification.
  • The new method significantly reduced the time required for lipid analysis compared to gravimetric methods.
  • The SPV assay proved quantitative for lipid determination, showing accuracy even in the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, and glycerol.

Conclusions:

  • The sulfo-phospho-vanillin (SPV) colorimetric method offers a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective approach for microbial lipid quantification.
  • This method is suitable for facilitating the screening of microalgae for high lipid productivity, crucial for sustainable biodiesel.
  • The SPV assay's robustness in the presence of common cellular components makes it a valuable tool in algal biotechnology.