Extraction of Biomolecules from Seaweeds

Introduction

Traditionally, seaweed has been used as a source of polysaccharides, minerals, and certain vitamins. In addition, seaweeds are a good source of polyphenols, polypeptides, amino acids and proteins, lipids, and pigments. The medicinal properties of these have been recognized in ancient medicine, but only recently has there been a significant increase in research into these organisms in an attempt to demonstrate their health benefits. Unfortunately, more than half of the substances in seaweed cannot be harvested. The extraction processes and conditions used to obtain value-added compounds from seaweed depend largely on the desired end product. Current processes have some limitations for industry, mainly focusing on the high energy consumption, solvents, and time. In addition, demanding processes with high temperatures and very long extraction times can have harmful effects on the compounds and their functionality, which underlies the importance of developing and applying new extraction methods.

Fig 1. Bioactive polysaccharides from seaweeds. (Hentati F, et al., 2020)

Customized Solutions

The seaweed extraction techniques currently used are energy intensive and require extended extraction times. Lifeasible has extensive experience in all aspects of seaweed research. We develop customized processes for extracting functional biomolecules from seaweeds, consisting of raw material pretreatment, extraction (single or multi-step), separation and concentration, and purification.

Extraction of Seaweed Biomolecules

• Optimised Conventional Extraction Methods

We offer solid-liquid extraction methods for the extraction of seaweed biomolecules. Depending on the seaweed species and the type of biological compound, we use environmentally friendly solvents such as ionic liquids, low eutectic solvents, surfactants, or solvents produced from biomass for extraction.

• Novel extraction methods

We offer non-chemical, fast, energy-efficient, zero-waste, non-hazardous, environmentally friendly, low-cost, versatile, and green techniques for extracting different biological compounds from seaweeds from untreated biomass.

• Microwave-assisted extraction.
• Ultrasound assisted extraction.
• Enzyme-assisted extraction.
• Supercritical Fluid Extraction.
• Pressurised solvent extraction.
• Electronic techniques: pulsed electric field (PEF) and ohmic heating (OH).
•  Selective magnetic separation techniques.

Purification of Seaweed Extracts

Consuming seaweed is beneficial to health, but unprocessed seaweed can pose potential health risks due to toxic elements. Therefore, extracting bioactive compounds rather than using seaweed directly is one way to prevent excessive intake of heavy metals. We also offer a variety of methods to purify extracts of bioactive or nutritional components isolated from seaweed to reduce the intake of excessive toxic components and ensure the commercial health and safety of the product.

• Membrane filtration.
• Ion exchange.
• Size exclusion.
• Affinity chromatography.

Competitive Advantages

We can quickly obtain glycosides and alkaloids from seaweed crude extracts by thin layer chromatography (TLC) using a specific solvent system and purification of the seaweed extract by column chromatography.

• A leading global provider of algae services.
• Experienced team with solid knowledge of marine biology.
• Increased yields and reduced extraction times.
• Reduced or avoided the use of solvents, economic and environmentally friendly.
• Rapid, reproducible, economic and simple extraction and purification of algal biomolecules.
• Molecular structure and biological activity of the desired compound can be preserved.

Our solution for extracting biomolecules from seaweeds can rapidly extract high-yield and high-purity bioactive molecules from seaweed, including sulfated polysaccharides, fatty acids, amino acids, bioactive peptides, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, etc. Our customer service representatives are enthusiastic and trustworthy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more information or to discuss in detail.