9.5 Extraction of Laminarin
199
Enzyme extraction often results in the production of oligolaminarins and some
sugars. Enzyme extraction is carried out at temperatures of ~30 °C. The system is
then heated to 100 °C upon completion in order to deactivate the enzymes (Ojima
et al. 2018).
9.5.4 Combined Extraction of Laminarin and Other Brown
Algae Polymers
For optimal utilization of the aquatic resources such as brown algae for biopolymer
extraction, sustainable extraction methods, whereby extraction of one polymer does
not completely destroy or inhibit the extraction of the other useful polymers within
the brown algae, are very important.
The conventional approach to the extraction of biopolymers from algae is to
extract a single product by either dissolving away all the biopolymers from the fiber
or isolating the required biopolymer by methods such as precipitation in alcohol.
However, in an approach to optimize the use of the biomass, some research efforts
have been directed at combined extraction processes which allow the extraction of
multiple biopolymers in a single process from the same algae biomass. Higher combined yield of polysaccharides can be achieved by combined extraction of laminarin,
fucoidan and alginate from brown algae; however, the molecular weights and other
properties such as viscosity and solubility differ from the conventional single extraction method (Abraham et al. 2019). Combined extraction of laminarin fucoidan and
alginate has been carried out of species such as the Durvillaea potatorum obtaining a
combined yield of 43.57% of polysaccharides compared to a single yield of 38.97%
of alginate. The combined extraction process required a modified biorefinery process which could achieve the extraction of all three polysaccharides from a single
source where the extraction of one component does not hinder or destroy the other
products. The scale-up of such process in a large-scale continuous process requires
further modification to the entire production process. The cost of the additional unit
operations to extract multiple biopolymers should also be weighed against the value
of the biopolymers being extracted.
9.6 Environmental Implications
Here we look at some key environmental issues associated with laminarin extraction
process from the cultivation of the brown algae to the final product leaving the factory
gate.
199
Enzyme extraction often results in the production of oligolaminarins and some
sugars. Enzyme extraction is carried out at temperatures of ~30 °C. The system is
then heated to 100 °C upon completion in order to deactivate the enzymes (Ojima
et al. 2018).
9.5.4 Combined Extraction of Laminarin and Other Brown
Algae Polymers
For optimal utilization of the aquatic resources such as brown algae for biopolymer
extraction, sustainable extraction methods, whereby extraction of one polymer does
not completely destroy or inhibit the extraction of the other useful polymers within
the brown algae, are very important.
The conventional approach to the extraction of biopolymers from algae is to
extract a single product by either dissolving away all the biopolymers from the fiber
or isolating the required biopolymer by methods such as precipitation in alcohol.
However, in an approach to optimize the use of the biomass, some research efforts
have been directed at combined extraction processes which allow the extraction of
multiple biopolymers in a single process from the same algae biomass. Higher combined yield of polysaccharides can be achieved by combined extraction of laminarin,
fucoidan and alginate from brown algae; however, the molecular weights and other
properties such as viscosity and solubility differ from the conventional single extraction method (Abraham et al. 2019). Combined extraction of laminarin fucoidan and
alginate has been carried out of species such as the Durvillaea potatorum obtaining a
combined yield of 43.57% of polysaccharides compared to a single yield of 38.97%
of alginate. The combined extraction process required a modified biorefinery process which could achieve the extraction of all three polysaccharides from a single
source where the extraction of one component does not hinder or destroy the other
products. The scale-up of such process in a large-scale continuous process requires
further modification to the entire production process. The cost of the additional unit
operations to extract multiple biopolymers should also be weighed against the value
of the biopolymers being extracted.
9.6 Environmental Implications
Here we look at some key environmental issues associated with laminarin extraction
process from the cultivation of the brown algae to the final product leaving the factory
gate.