CEN/TC 454/WG 6 - Product test methods

This document specifies a laboratory method for the determination of chlorophyll a content in algae. The method was initially tested and evaluated on the microalgae species Nannochloropsis sp. and a heat treated algal product tomato soup with Nannochloropsis sp. supplement, and the macro algae species Ulva sp., Furcellaria lumbricalis, and Saccharina latissima. During an Interlaboratory Trial the method was tested on the microalgae species Nannochloropsis sp. and the macro algae species Saccharina latissima. The microalgae species Nannochloropsis sp. and Phaodactlylum sp. and the macro algae species Ulva sp. and Saccharina latissima were tested in a Round Robin test. This document is only validated for chlorophyll a, but it can be used for other chlorophylls as well.

This document specifies the sample preparation of dry and wet samples of algae and algae products. This document enables laboratories analysing algae samples to report accurate dry weight percentages and to obtain representative samples possible for further examination.

This document encompasses the determination of the fatty acid profile in algae and algae products, thereby including micro- and macroalgae, according to the definitions adopted by CEN. This determination enables that all fatty acids present at a significant level (> 1 % of the total fatty acids) in the algal matrix are quantified in an accurate and reproducible way. The concentration of each fatty acid will be available in relative (in %) and, by means of an appropriate internal standard, absolute (mg/g dw) terms. Moreover, the method described in this standard ensures a practical and safe technical approach, whose protocol details and all related know-how will be easily and economically transferrable to all the sector stakeholders. This document ensures this objective by a comprehensive and fully detailed description of all technical steps from the sample itself (including its state and form) to the gas chromatographic technique and the calculation of the fatty acid content. The wording avoids any risk of ambiguity or wrong interpretation. Finally, this methodological standard will be informed by other equivalent standards applied to other matrices and will take into account other standards concerning specific treatment or extractive procedure of the sample prior to the fatty acid analysis itself.

This document specifies the extraction and determination procedures for the phycobiliproteins C-phycocyanin (C-PC) and the complementary pigment allophycocyanin (APC) from dry samples of species belonging to the genus Arthrospira (Cyanobacteria, Cyanoprokaryota or blue-green algae)(nowadays referred to Limnospira, [1]), and commercially known as Spirulina. This document enables laboratories analysing Arthrospira samples to report accurate C-PC and APC concentrations and yields.

This European standard specifies a laboratory method for the determination of the
carotenoid  content in microalgae. The method is based on the development of the
chlorophyll a standard, which resulted in prEN 18034. This method has been validated
for the microalgae species  Nannochloropsis and Phaodactlylum. This standard is only
validated for fucoxanthin, beta carotene and lutein content, but could be used for other
carotenoids as well. Given small adaptations to be able to measure smaller
concentrations, this method could also be used for macro algae.
This standard is developed in CEN/TC 454/WG 6 Product test methods.