MBTH: A novel approach to rapid, spectrophotometric quantitation of total algal carbohydrates

• Published in: Analytical biochemistry Vol. 518; no. C; pp. 90 - 93
• Main Authors: Van Wychen, Stefanie, Long, William, Black, Stuart K., Laurens, Lieve M.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-02-2017
• Subjects: 09 BIOMASS FUELS; Algae; BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; Benzothiazoles - chemistry; Carbohydrate Metabolism - physiology; Carbohydrates; Carbohydrates - antagonists & inhibitors; Carbohydrates - chemistry; Chlorella vulgaris - chemistry; Chlorella vulgaris - metabolism; Hydrazones - chemistry; Hydrolysis; MBTH; Phenol-sulfuric acid; Scenedesmus - chemistry; Scenedesmus - metabolism; Spectrophotometric; Spectrophotometry - methods; Carbohydrates; Spectrophotometric; Phenol-sulfuric acid; MBTH; Algae
• ISSN: 0003-2697; 1096-0309
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2016.11.014

A high-throughput and robust application of the 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone (MBTH) method was developed for carbohydrate determination in microalgae. The traditional phenol-sulfuric acid method to quantify carbohydrates is strongly affected by algal biochemical components and exhibits a highly variable response to microalgal monosaccharides. We present a novel use of the MBTH method to accurately quantify carbohydrates in hydrolyzate after acid hydrolysis of algal biomass, without a need for neutralization. The MBTH method demonstrated consistent and sensitive quantitation of algae-specific monosaccharides down to 5 μg mL−1 without interference from other algae acidic hydrolyzate components.