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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of agar from Gracilaria vermiculophylla, produced in an integrated
multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) system, from Ria de Aveiro (northwestern Portugal), was tested and
optimized using response surface methodology. The influence of the MAE operational parameters
(extraction time, temperature, solvent volume and stirring speed) on the physical and chemical properties
of agar (yield, gel strength, gelling and melting temperatures, as well as, sulphate and 3,6-anhydro-Lgalactose
contents) was evaluated in a 2^4 orthogonal composite design. The quality of the extracted agar
compared favorably with the attained using traditional extraction (2 h at 85ºC) while reducing drastically
extraction time, solvent consumption and waste disposal requirements. Agar MAE optimum results
were: an yield of 14.4 ± 0.4%, a gel strength of 1331 ± 51 g/cm2, 40.7 ± 0.2 _C gelling temperature,
93.1 ± 0.5ºC melting temperature, 1.73 ± 0.13% sulfate content and 39.4 ± 0.3% 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose
content. Furthermore, this study suggests the feasibility of the exploitation of G. vermiculophylla grew
in IMTA systems for agar production.
Description
Keywords
Integrated aquaculture systems Gracilaria vermiculophylla Agar Microwave-assisted extraction Response surface methodology
Citation
Publisher
Elsevier