VOLATILE COMPOUNDS OF GREEN MICROALGAE GROWN ON REUSED WASTE-WATER

The volatile compounds of two green algae, Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorel la vulgaris, have been identified. These algae, which are dominant in biomass, have been harvested from a pond used for treatment of reused waste water. Volatile oils were obtained by steam distillation of the algae with a yield of 0.014-0.020% (w/w). The essential oil components were analysed by GC and GC-mass spectrometry. The major products in t he oil of both species are palmitic acid in the acidic fraction (18-19 %), phytol and 2-butyloctanol in the alcohol fraction (11-16%), methyl palmitate, methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, methyl stearate in the es ter fraction (20-23%) and, heptadecane and 1-heptadecene in the hydroc arbon fraction (25-26%). Minor quantities of ketones and lactones were also detected.