Determination of iron, copper and zinc microelement effects on the lipid and fatty acids of microalgae Spirulina platensis

The effects of Iron (Fe+2), copper (Cu+2) and zinc (Zn+2) trace elements on lipid and fatty acids of microalgae Spirulina platensis were investigated under laboratory conditions. The specimen cultured in Zarrouk media with 4 groups including control and 3 different concentrations of iron, zinc and copper trace elements with the volume of 10 times compare to control. Maximum and minimum of lipid contents were measured in iron and zinc treatments with 5.28 and 1.47% dry weight, respectively. The major group of fatty acids were C16:00, C18:00, C16:1n7, C18:1n9, C18:2n6 and C18:3n3. Maximum and minimum saturated fatty acids (SFA) were measured in iron and zinc treatments with 43.50 and 37.54 mg.g-1.dw-1, respectively. The highest value of mono and poly unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA) were determined in zinc and iron treatments (53.19 and 39/51 mg g-1 dw-1), respectively, compared with other treatments. In conclusion, zinc treatment increased the contents of EPA, DHA, MUFA and omega 6 as compared to other treatments and the highest amount of PUFA was obtained in iron treatment.