Alginate extraction from Sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean region: Optimization using response surface methodology

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Biopolymer Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Sargassum seaweed blooms cause significant environmental and economic issues in the Caribbean.
• Sodium alginate is a valuable biopolymer derived from seaweed biomass.
• Current extraction methods yield low-quality alginate, hindering commercial viability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize sodium alginate extraction from Sargassum seaweed.
• To improve alginate yield and purity.
• To characterize the physiochemical properties of extracted alginate.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Box-Behnken Response Surface Design for process optimization.
• Employed multistage extraction technique.
• Characterized extracted alginate using NMR and FTIR spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• Achieved a crude yield of 28% and 92% purity for purified alginate.
• Determined an M/G ratio of 0.45, molecular weight of 3.14 × 10^5 g/mol, and viscosity of 14.10 cP.
• Results indicate high gelling capabilities of the extracted alginate.

Conclusions:

• Optimized extraction process significantly enhances Sargassum alginate yield and purity.
• Extracted alginate exhibits favorable physiochemical properties for gelling applications.
• This research provides a viable pathway for Sargassum valorization and sodium alginate commercialization.