, 2010 and Mata et al., 2010). BMN 673 in vivo The authors suggest combining the macro-algae and using large amounts of raw materials to obtain a homogenous high lipid content, and accordingly these seaweeds could be exploited as a source of biodiesel. The present study showed that marine algae subjected to seasonal variations exhibit different concentrations of total, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with a characteristic profile for each. This is expected for distant systematic relationships between these algae. Both U. linza and P. pavonica had

the highest fatty acid percentages throughout the entire year compared to J. rubens. Palmitic acid (C16:0) was at relatively high concentrations. For U. linza and P. pavonica, palmitic acid comprised approximately 70%. For J. rubens, it comprised approximately 30% of the total saturated fatty acids for the studied seasons. This is a distinctive characteristic because palmitic acid (C16:0) is the primary saturated fatty acid in several seaweeds ( Bemelmans

et al., 2002, Denis et al., 2010, El-Shoubaky et al., 2008, Khotimchenko, 1991 and Matanjun et al., 2009). Simultaneously, docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) presented with higher concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids in approximately 50% of these algae during the different seasons. However, for U. linza and P. pavonica, it was approximately 25% in autumn and summer, respectively. Gosch et al. Selleck LGK-974 (2012) reported that this essential

polyunsaturated fatty acid is most common in the green seaweeds but is less in the brown and red seaweeds. By contrast, Khairy and El-Shafay (2013) found that it was a primary component in several macro-algae. Phosphoprotein phosphatase Belarbi et al. (2000) and Chisti (2007) reported that algal oils differ from vegetable oils because they are relatively rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids with four or more double bonds, such as docosahexaenoic acid, which commonly occurs in algal oils. For the ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in this study, P. pavonica exhibited the highest ratios (3.23, 3.37 and 4.05), followed by U. linza (2.55, 2.56 and 3.90), whereas J. rubens displayed relatively low ratios (0.85, 0.76 and 1.09) during the summer, autumn and spring, respectively. The principal component analysis shown in Fig. 1a–c separates these seaweeds based on their total, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids into two groups, with the brown and green seaweeds grouped together and the red seaweed grouped out. However, quantification of the fatty acid components and varying degrees of saturation were significant factors in determining the suitability of these oils as biodiesel feedstock. Ramos et al. (2009) reported that monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated methyl esters predict the critical parameters of the European standard for any biodiesel composition.