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Biopolymers from the Mauritian Marine Environment
Author(s) -
Jhurry D.,
BhawLuximon A.,
Mardamootoo T.,
Ramanjooloo A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200590020
Subject(s) - algae , gracilaria , extraction (chemistry) , polysaccharide , carrageenan , agar , botany , gigartinales , red algae , biology , chemistry , food science , chromatography , biochemistry , genetics , bacteria
To the best of our knowledge, the extraction of biopolymers from algae and seaweeds still remains untapped. Prior studies in this area have been limited to a taxonomic survey of algae and seaweeds found around our coastal regions. In this paper, we report on the extraction of biopolymers from Hypnea , Eucheuma and Gracilaria species collected around the coastal regions of Mauritius. Various extraction conditions were used and their effects on yield and structure of the corresponding biopolymers were investigated. The extracted polysaccharides were characterized by a combination of IR, NMR, SEC, viscometry and elemental analyses. These revealed that polysaccharide extracted from Gracilaria is a highly methylated agar and Hypnea / Eucheuma contain κ‐carrageenan.