Elevate Your Products with Our Premium Agar Production Solutions
Agar is a gelatinous substance extracted from seaweed and is commonly used in the preparation of culture media, gel electrophoresis, and microbiology experiments. It has good gel properties and stability and can form strong gel structures for the separation and detection of biomolecules. CD BioGlyco provides an extensive array of Marine Carbohydrate Production Services, encompassing the production of Alginate, Fucoidan, Laminarin, and agar.
Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE)
We use UAE for agar extraction. Ultrasound acting on the plant material breaks the plant matrix into smaller particles, increases the contact area between the solvent and the target compound, and improves the interaction between the solvent and the plant material. Compared to conventional methods, UAE increases the pore size of the plant matrix, resulting in more efficient mass transfer.
Enzyme-Assisted Extraction
We offer enzyme-assisted agar extraction according to your research needs. We subject algae to enzyme treatment, using cellulase enzymes to act on the cell walls of the algae to facilitate the dissolution of agar in the hot water extraction process. Then, the enzyme-treated agar algae are subjected to alkali treatment using an alkaline solution to thin the thick folds on the surface of the algae and to make the pores on the surface of the algae disappear. The alkali-treated algae are subjected to an acid treatment to remove the lamellar hemicellulose cell walls attached to the algal body, making the surface of the algae smoother. Finally, agar is extracted into solution after enzyme treatment, alkali treatment, acid treatment, and bleaching in an enzyme-assisted extraction process.
After the initial extraction, incompletely dissolved algal residues are removed by filtration. The solution is then allowed to stand for a while to allow the solids to settle, and these impurities are further removed by sedimentation or centrifugation. The adsorbent is added to the agar solution, stirred, and filtered off. After removing small molecule impurities such as salts and sugars by dialysis, the solution is cooled to room temperature or lower to allow it to form a gel. The gel is then cut into small pieces and dried in a dryer to obtain solid agar.
Publication
Technology: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)
Journal: Foods
IF: 5.561
Published: 2022
Results: This article focuses on the optimization of agar extraction from red algae, comparing the effectiveness of UAE and traditional extraction methods. It was found that the conditions of traditional and UAE could be successfully optimized by response surface methodology and the corresponding models were obtained. Under the optimized conditions, the time and temperature of the conventional extraction were 6 h and 100°C, and the UAE was 1 h at 100% power. In addition, it was found that the UAE could effectively disrupt seaweed cell walls, resulting in more efficient mass transfer. However, the extraction conditions did not affect protein extraction. The article also mentions further studies on the re-extraction methods of agar and protein, but the modeling done was not significant. Finally, FTIR analysis confirmed that the agar from the optimized extracts had a similar spectrum to commercial agar. Overall, it was shown that the UAE gives higher yields for the same extraction time, which is more advantageous from an economic point of view.
Fig.1 The traditional method for agar extraction. (Gómez Barrio, et al., 2022)
Applications
- Agar is used as a component of microbiological media for the cultivation of bacteria and fungi.
- Agar can be used in the preparation of capsules and tablets of drugs to increase their stability and delay drug release.
- In tissue engineering, agar is used as a scaffold to support the growth of artificial tissues or organs. By providing a structure for cells to adhere to and organize around, agar facilitates the creation of functional biological constructs that can be used in regenerative medicine.
Advantages
- We use novel extraction techniques to reduce extraction time, lower energy consumption, and increase extraction yields and extract quality.
- By optimizing the extraction conditions, we offer you higher extraction yields and better extraction quality compared to conventional methods.
- By optimizing our production processes and equipment, we reduce energy consumption, lower production costs and provide you with a more cost-effective service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key properties of agar that make it useful in microbiology?
The high gel strength, stability at varying temperatures, clarity, and ability to remain solid at human body temperature make agar ideal for use as a culture medium in microbiology.
What types of red algae are commonly used for agar extraction?
The red algae commonly used for agar extraction include Gelidium, Gracilaria, and Pterocladia. Gelidium is known for its high-quality agar with strong gelling properties. Gracilaria is more abundant and easier to cultivate and produces softer agar. Pterocladia also produces high-quality agar but is less commonly used than the other two.
CD BioGlyco processes a diverse team of experts who utilize cutting-edge technology to offer customized agar production services tailored to the unique traits of individual seaweeds. If you are interested in learning more about our services, please don't hesitate to contact us.
References
- Gómez Barrio, L.P.; et al. Comparison study of an optimized ultrasound-based method versus an optimized conventional method for agar extraction, and protein Co-extraction, from Gelidium sesquipedale. Foods. 2022, 11(6): 805.
- Xiao, Q.; et al. Pretreatment techniques and green extraction technologies for agar from Gracilaria lemaneiformis. Marine Drugs. 2021, 19(11): 617.
