Abstract: A method of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was established to determine the fatty acids of Ulva pertusa Kjellm. The total lipids of Ulva pertusa Kjellm were extracted using Folch method, derivatized with HCl-CH3OH solution, and analyzed by GC/MS. The fragmentation patterns and mass spectrometry characteristics of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were analyzed and concluded by regular patterns of organic mass spectrometry. According to the database index and standard controls, twenty-four fatty acid components in Ulva pertusa Kjellm were identified, and the contents of 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, 4,7,10,13-hexadecatetraenoic acid and 6,9,2,15-octadecatetraenoic acid accounted for 45.14% of the total fatty acids. The qualitative results of fatty acids in Ulva pertusa Kjellm show that it is very useful in identifying fatty acid methyl esters by characteristic ions, especially polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters.

Key words: fatty acids, Ulva pertusa Kjellm , gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS)