Lipid extraction was performed using a modified Folch method, employing a 2:1 chloroform/methanol extraction at 35 °C using an ultrasonic bath for 45 min [15]. Approximately 100 mg of algae was treated with aliquots of 5 ml of solvent mixture. After sonication, 1.7 ml of water was added to the samples, centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 10 min and the lipid containing chloroform layer recovered. The procedure was repeated with fresh solvent mixture. The lipids were finally quantified gravimetrically.