Instant Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) as an innovative pre-treatment for extraction of natural compounds from the brown seaweed Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt 1955 (Ochrophytina, Fucales)

The effects of the Instant Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) technology on the recovery of natural compounds from the brown seaweed Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt 1955 (Ochrophytina, Fucales) were investigated. Fresh biomass of S. muticum was collected on the Brittany Coast, France. Both fresh and Air Impingement-Dried (AID) thalli of 3 and 10 cm length were submitted to DIC during 20 s or 90 s of processing time under 100 or 800 kPa of saturated steam pressure. DIC treatment significantly improved the extraction of sulphate groups at 90 s, and carotene at 20 s under 100 kPa in thalli of 10 cm. While, coupling AID to DIC, the content of neutral sugars, proteins and antioxidants were higher in AID + DIC treatments. Further, a significant increase of 20 % in fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides and 30 % in sodium alginate under 100 kPa during 90 s, compared to oven-dried, was observed. The biomass of the invasive S. muticum treated by DIC and AID + DIC represented a valuable contribution for extraction of natural compounds. Advantages for industrial integration of DIC were discussed.