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Abstract
Yousefi M.K., Islami, H.R. and Filizadeh Y. 2013. Effect of extraction process on agar properties of Gracilaria corticata (Rhodophyta) collected from the Persian Gulf. Phycologia 52: 481–487. DOI: 10.2216/13-165.1
This study investigated the effects of different extraction variables including soaking times, soaking temperatures, alga-to-water ratios, extraction times and extraction temperatures on agar yield and other quality properties of Gracilaria corticata growing along northeastern coast of the Persian Gulf. An alkali treatment was also examined to optimise the extraction conditions. The results indicated that agar properties were significantly affected by all experimental variables; although, soaking treatment had less effects on agar yield compared to the other treatments. On the assumption that gel strength was the major criterion for processing of Gracilaria, a soaking time of 1 h at 40°C with an alga-to-water ratio of 1:200 followed by extraction for 2.5 h at 80°C was recommended for G. corticata to achieve agar with better quality. The gel strength of G. corticata in most treatments was more than 350 g cm−2 (established standard for food-grade agar), but this value is a considerable distance from the standard for commercial agar extraction processes (more than 800 g cm−2) without using alkali treatment.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are thankful to Dr Parviz Aberomand for technical support, to Dr Ali Mashinchian for great suggestions and advice, and to staff of the Zakaria-e-Razi Laboratory Complex that helped to maintain the experimental treatments. This work was carried out partly in the Zakaria-e-Razi Laboratory Complex of Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.