Extraction of Agar and Alginate from Marine Seaweeds in Red Sea Region

Abstract

Water constitutes major portion of the earth’s crust approximately (75%), and it applies to all biological organisms, including sea weeds. Its extraction is useful to human beings directly and indirectly. The study was conducted in Red Sea area of Massawa beaches and extracted agar and alginate from two varieties of red algae (Gracilaria arcuate) and brown algae (Turbinaria decurrens). These extractnats were having many applications for human benefits and also industrial applications such as binding agent and agro-based industry. These were analysed for their phycocolloids extraction (specifically agar and alginate). 20.4% of agar was extracted from Gracilaria arcuata according to the procedure of Geratrudes (1990). Gracilaria arcuata were pre-treated with Na2CO3 followed by NaOH treatment and finally by extraction. The results were found to be encouraging in its powdered product has been obtained. Parallel to that 25.6% powdered Sodium alginate was extracted by Green process from the extraordinary species of brown algae, Turbinaria decurrens and as per chemical analysis, positive result was obtained. According to the data from Hernandez-Carmona et al, (2013), agar is the most expensive colloid in worlds market, at US$18 per kg, followed by alginates and carrageenan at US$12 and US$10.5 per kg, respectively. Hence, new methods for extraction is required to obtain high quality byproducts from sea weeds.