Conventional vs. Innovative Protocols for the Extraction of Polysaccharides from Macroalgae

Damiano Spagnuolo, Antonio Di Martino, Vincenzo Zammuto, Simona Armeli Minicante, Antonio Spanò, Antonio Manghisi, Concetta Gugliandolo, Marina Morabito and Giuseppa Genovese
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Damiano Spagnuolo: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Antonio Di Martino: Research School of Chemistry & Applied Biomedical Sciences, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Lenin Avenue 43, 63400 Tomsk, Russia
Vincenzo Zammuto: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Simona Armeli Minicante: National Research Council, Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), 30122 Venice, Italy
Antonio Spanò: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Antonio Manghisi: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Concetta Gugliandolo: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Marina Morabito: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Giuseppa Genovese: Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: Macroalgae are one of the most environmentally friendly resources, and their industrial by-products should also be sustainable. Algal polysaccharides represent valuable products, and the definition of new eco-sustainable extraction processes, ensuring a safe and high-quality product, is a new goal in the context of reducing the carbon footprint. The aim of the present work was to determine the influence of the extraction methodology on the properties and structure of the polysaccharides, comparing conventional and innovative microwave-assisted methods. We focused on extraction times, yield, chemical composition and, finally, biological activities of raw polymers from three macroalgal species of Chlorophyta , Rhodophyta and Phaeophyceae . The main objective was to design a sustainable process in terms of energy and time savings, with the aim of developing subsequent application at the industrial level. Extraction efficacy was likely dependent on the physico-chemical polysaccharide properties, while the use of the microwave did not affect their chemical structure. Obtained results indicate that the innovative method could be used as an alternative to the conventional one to achieve emulsifiers and bacterial antiadhesives for several applications. Natural populations of invasive algae were used rather than cultivated species in order to propose the valorization of unwanted biomasses, which are commonly treated as waste, converting them into a prized resource.

Keywords: alginate; antibiofilm assay; carragenans; emulsifying activity; DNA barcoding; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-ATR; gas chromatography with flame ionization detection; gel permeation chromatography; invasive macroalgal biomasses; ulvans (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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