Quantification of triglyceride content in oleaginous materials using thermo-gravimetry

Journal Article · 16 October 2017 · Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JAAP.2017.10.006 · OSTI ID:1413483

Maddi, Balakrishna ^[1]; Vadlamani, Agasteswar ^[2]; Viamajala, Sridhar ^[2]; Varanasi, Sasidhar ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Environmental Engineering; Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2. Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
3. Univ. of Toledo, OH (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Environmental Engineering; Manhanttan College, Riverdale, NY (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering

Laboratory analytical methods for quantification of triglyceride content in oleaginous biomass samples, especially microalgae, require toxic chemicals and/or organic solvents and involve multiple steps. We describe a simple triglyceride quantification method that uses thermo-gravimetry. This method is based on the observation that triglycerides undergo near-complete volatilization/degradation over a narrow temperature interval with a derivative weight loss peak at 420 °C when heated in an inert atmosphere. Degradation of the other constituents of oleaginous biomass (protein and carbohydrates) is largely complete after prolonged exposure of samples at 320 °C. Based on these observations, the triglyceride content of oleaginous biomass was estimated by using the following two-step process. In Step 1, samples were heated to 320 °C and kept isothermal at this temperature for 15 min. In Step 2, samples were heated from 320 °C to 420 °C and then kept isothermal at 420 °C for 15 min. The results show that mass loss in step 2 correlated well with triglyceride content estimates obtained from conventional techniques for diverse microalgae and oilseed samples.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC0576RL01830; CHE-1230609; EE0005993
• OSTI ID: 1413483
• Journal Information: Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, Vol. 128, Issue C; ISSN 0165-2370
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English