Physicochemical characteristics of alkali treated cottonii (ATC) flour of Kappaphycusalvarezii seaweed from Morotai Island in North Maluku

Abstract

The utilization of Eucheumacottonii or Kappaphycusalvarezii to become alkali treated cottonii (ATC) flour or semi refined carrageenan (SRC) is one effort to improve the quality and economic value of seaweed. ATC flour is a polysaccharide extracted from Kappaphycusalvarezii using hot alkali solution which can be used as raw material for the manufacture of refined carrageenan. The utilization of carrageenan in the food processing industry and other industries is very important, so it is necessary to study the processing of ATC flour using the optimal type and concentration of alkali solution. The research aim is to know the characteristic of ATC flour of Kappaphycusalvareziiseaweed from Morotai Island based on the type and concentration of alkali solution, while the research benefit as information resources in ATC flour processing and manufacture technique so that it can be applied by the community and seaweed processing industry. The research stages include sample preparation, the extraction using hot alkali solution with the treatment: A1 (KOH 6%), A2 (KOH 8%), A3 (NaOH 6%) and A4 (NaOH 8%), and ATC flour quality characterization includes: yield, gel strength, bulk density, whiteness, moisture content and ash content. ATC flour extracted using KOH 8% has the best characteristic with 24.03% yield value; gel strength 28774.88 g.cm−2; bulk density 0.12 g/mL; whiteness 58.27%; moisture content 15.97% and ash content 18.32%.