Characteristics of Sodium Alginate Extracted from Turbinaria sp. and Sargassum sp.
Characterization of sodium alginate extracted from two species of brown seaweed (Turbinaria sp. and Sargassum sp.) has been conducted. The aim of the study was to evaluate physical and chemical properties of the two different types of sodium alginates produced from this extraction process. Extraction was conducted in alkaline solution followed by acid treatment with the following steps: sortation of seaweed, washing, alkaline extraction, bleaching, alginic acid and sodium alginate conversion, dehydration using isopropyl alcohol (IPA), drying, chopping and grinding. Each extraction was conducted in duplicate using approximately 1 kg of the raw materials. The physical and chemical properties of the final products (sodium alginate powders) were analyzed. The results of the analysis were as follows: the yield of alginate powder from Turbinaria sp. was 14.77% having water content of 13.48%; whiteness degree of 23.77%; and viscosity of 133.67 cPs while the yield of sodium alginate powder extracted from Sargassum sp. was 24.56% with water content of 12.69%; whiteness degree of 43.80%; and viscosity of 217.50 cPs. Both alginate powders had better physical characteristics compared to commercial grade alginate which had water content of 16.07%, whiteness degree of 29.37%, and viscosity of 102.67cPs.