FTIR transmission spectroscopy for measurement of algae neutral lipids

Authors

  • Talal Yasir AlShikaili Department of Soils, Water and Agricultural Engineering, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 34, Al-khod 123, Sultanate of Oman
  • John Alex Thomasson Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, Mail Stop 2117, College Station, Texas 77843, U.S.A.
  • Yufeng Ge Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, Mail Stop 2117, College Station, Texas 77843, U.S.A.
  • Louis Brown Texas A&M Agrilife Research Center, Pecos Station, PO Box 15459, Pecos, Texas 79772
  • Jola Brown Texas A&M Agrilife Research Center, Pecos Station, PO Box 15459, Pecos, Texas 79772

Keywords:

biofuels, FTIR spectroscopy, ATR spectroscopy, KBr pellets, Mid-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Algae lipids can be used to produce biofuels and are considered a potential source of energy to supplant fossil fuel. Cultivation practices of algae grown in large ponds can be tailored to maximize lipid content. Laboratory methods of measuring lipid content are time-consuming and labor-intensive, so a real-time measuring technique is needed to efficiently control the addition of pond nutrients.  The objective of this research was to determine the effectiveness of measuring algae lipid content with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) transmission spectroscopy. Six algae samples (Nannochloropsis salina) with varying lipid contents were centrifuged and then dried in an oven at 40° C for 12 hours. Dried algae were mixed with potassium bromide (KBr) powder at a mass ratio of 1:150 (algae:KBr) and pressed into pellets. A Thermo-Nicolet 6700 FTIR spectrometer was used to collect spectral data in transmission mode. Three relevant absorption bands centered at 2920, 2855, and 1742 cm-1 were identified. A linear regression analyses showed that the band depth at 2920 cm-1 was strongly correlated (R2 = 0.92) with lipid content measured by gas chromatography (GC).  The results of this research provide insight into the development of a real-time lipid-content sensor. 

Author Biography

Talal Yasir AlShikaili, Department of Soils, Water and Agricultural Engineering, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 34, Al-khod 123, Sultanate of Oman

Department of Soils, Water & Agricultural Engineering

Assistant Professor

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Published

2022-12-24

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 4 (2022): CIGR Journal

Section

V-Management, Ergonomics and Systems Engineering