Comparison of a Direct Transesterification Method and the Bligh and Dyer Method to Determine Fatty Acid Content in Striped Bass Tissues and Diet

L.A. Dickey, B.B. Teter, J. Sampugna, L.C. Woods, III-2002

North American Journal of Aquaculture, 64(2): 158–163

Abstract:

This study compares a direct transesterification method for obtaining values for the fatty acid content of fish tissues and fish diets with the traditional Bligh and Dyer method, which involves a classical total-lipid extraction procedure followed by a transesterification step. Total lipid was extracted from the livers and ova of striped bass Morone saxatilis and a formulated diet used by the commercial striped bass aquaculture industry in order to compare the fatty acid amount and content obtained by each method. Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared from the total lipid extract or by the direct transesterification method. The latter method obviates the need for a total-lipid extraction and allows the conversion of fatty acids to methyl esters in a single step. The quantity and composition of the fatty acid methyl esters obtained by each method were compared with gas-liquid chromatography. Compared with the solvent extraction method, the direct transesterification method was faster and less solvent intensive and recovered more fatty acid from both tissue and diet samples.

(University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-2311, USA)

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