Characterization of agar from Gracilaria tikvahiae cultivated for nutrient bioextraction in open water farms

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Rocha, CMR (Author) Other; Sousa, AMM (Author) Other; Kim, JK (Author) Other; Magalhaes, JMCS (Author) Other; Yarish, C (Author) Other; Maria do Pilar Gonçalves (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Food Hydrocolloids

Vol. 89

Pages: 260-271

ISSN: 0268-005X

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

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Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-VDC

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2018.10.048

Abstract (EN): Gracilaria tikvahiae, an endemic western North Atlantic red alga, was cultivated for nutrient bioextraction in urbanized estuarine waters in Long Island Sound and the Bronx River Estuary, USA. This study assesses the feasibility of an integrated approach of using G. tikvahiae produced in this bioextraction system as sustainable biomass source for agar production. Agars were extracted after alkaline pre-treatment and characterized in terms of gelling strength, chemical composition, chemical structure and gel structure. Results indicated that this seaweed performed similar to other cultivated Gracilaria in terms of extraction yield and gelling strength of the agar. Differences between sites were not significant in terms of agar gel strength, though yield was higher at Long Island Sound. The extracted agars were sulfated, methylated and with no detectable pyruvate substituents. It is possible to use an integrated strategy of nutrient bioextraction in urbanized estuarine waters and agar exploitation with G. tikvahiae.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12