Analysis of neutral lipids from microalgae by HPLC-ELSD and APCI-MS/MS

• The HPLC–APCI-MS/MS method presented in this study allowed us to identify most of the neutral lipids.
• The separation and identification of major neutral lipids from microalgae were obtained in less than 45 min.
• The identifications were used to the label the peaks in the HPLC–ELSD chromatogram.

A method was developed to analyze neutral lipids through the use of three triglycerides, four free fatty acids, six di- and four mono-glycerides standards by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) normal phase coupled with either with evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) or with mass spectrometry (MS) operating in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mode. The method was applied to the determination of the neutral lipid fraction from a Botryococcus braunii race A (B. braunii) culture. This method led us to identify neutral lipids synthesized by B. braunii in a single analysis within 45 min through HPLC–APCI-MS/MS technique.