Purification of stearidonic acid (18:4(n-3)) and hexadecatetraenoic acid (16:4(n-3)) from algal fatty acid with lipase and medium pressure liquid chromatography

Stearidonic acid (18:4(n-3)) and hexadecatetraenoic acid (16:4(n-3)) are included in some edible marine algae such as Undaria pinnatifida and Ulva pertusa with relatively high compositions (up to 40%) of total fatty acids. In order to prepare 16:4(n-3) and 18:4(n-3) enriched fatty acid concentrates, we screened for a suitable lipase which concentrates these acids by the removal of other fatty acids in the selective esterification reaction reported by Shimada et al. (Shimada et al. (1997), J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 74, 1465-1470). In combination with the lipase reaction and reversed-phase medium pressure liquid chromatography, we purified 18:4(n-3) and 16:4(n-3) to more than 95% purity.