Extraction and Characterization of Sodium Alginate Extract from Sargassum Natans

Sargassum in the Caribbean region has affected the livelihood of several coastal communities due to the influx of large quantities of the seaweed in recent times. This research seeks to explore how this Sargassum natans can be utilized to produce useful raw materials such as sodium alginate. The novelty in the research lies in the extraction process, whereby staged extraction and precipitation were investigated and optimized in an effort to maximize both yield and purity. The results showed that a maximum yield of 19% was observed after 1 stage, while 74% purity was found after 4 stages. In addition, staged precipitation indicated the maximum purity and yield can be obtained at 3 stages; 71 – 74% and 12 – 16% respectively. Furthermore, characterization was done using FTIR and NMR, and compared to a commercial alginate brand with the results giving an M/G ratio of 0.51.