Alginate extraction from Persian Gulf brown seaweed using ultrasound-assisted method

Brown seaweeds are a rich and main source of polysaccharides, especially alginate which is widely utilized across various industries. Alginate extraction routes are divided into two major conventional and environmentally friendly methods. Currently, environmentally sustainable methods hold significant importance across multiple sectors. Due to that, this paper explores an innovative UAE green extraction route that not only minimizes solvent usage and processing time but also enhances alginate yields compared to conventional techniques. Moreover, the ultrasound extraction method optimized for Persian Gulf seaweeds significantly reduced the extraction duration from ۲-۳ hours to a mere ۴۵ minutes, achieving an impressive yield of nearly ۴۷%. Characterization techniques such as FTIR and XRD confirmed that alginates extracted using ultrasound power at ۱۵۰W and ۸۰ °C maintained structural integrity comparable to those obtained at lower power settings. These findings underscore the potential of the UAE method for industrial applications, promoting cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

Keywords:

Alginate , Extraction , Biopolymer , Eco-friendly , Ultrasound , FTIR