Yield and quality of carrageenan from Kappaphycus alvarezii subjected to different physical and chemical treatments

Mishra, Pathik Chandra and Jayasankar, Reeta and Seema, C (2006) Yield and quality of carrageenan from Kappaphycus alvarezii subjected to different physical and chemical treatments. Seaweed Research and Utilisation, 28 (1). pp. 113-117.

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Abstract

With a view to findout a suitable method for carrageenan extraction from Kappaphycus alvarezii, a detailed investigation was made on quantitative and qualitative estimation of carrageenan subjected to different physical and chemical treatments. The dried material presoaked in KOH and heated for 5 hours at 900C and precipitated with propanol gave the maximum yield of 59.4 % and viscosity of 25.25 cps. In Ca(OH)2 treatment, the yield was almost similar to that of KOH treatment but the viscosity was very low (9.45 cps). The gel was found to be brown in colour when treated with NaOH and milky white with Ca (OH) 2. KOH gel was thick, translucent with high viscosity. Pretreatments of dried seaweed with NaOH, KOH and Ca (OH) 2 followed by pressure-cooking showed relatively higher yield of carrageenan, but the viscosity, clarity and the texture of the gel were found to be poor. Clarity of gel obtained by KOH- methanol treatment was higher when compared to other treatments. The yield of carrageenan was higher when the extracted material was frozen overnight and thawed, but the gel was brown in colour with less rigidity. The present study shows that treatment with KOH gives better yield and quality gel.

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