ISSN 2303-4521
Periodicals of Engineering and Natural Sciences Original Research
Vol. 10, No. 2, April 2022, pp.445-454
© The Author 2022. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that
allows others to share and adapt the material for any purpose (even commercially), in any medium with an acknowledgement of the work's
authorship and initial publication in this journal.
445
Ultrasound assisted extraction of carotenoids from Sargassum
Angustifolium algae
Abbas Khalaf Mohammad
1
, Nawras Shareef Sabeeh
2
1
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq
ABSTRACT
An experimental batch extraction method was studied to obtain a carotenoid pigment from dried Sargassum
Angustifolium algae using ultrasound as an enhancer and a mixture of ethanol-isopropanol as a solvent.
The purpose of this work is to investigate the extraction kinetics as well as the temperature effects (303 to
333) K, solvent concentration (40% ethanol - 60% isopropanol to 60% ethanol - 40% isopropanol) and
particle size (250 - 500, 500 - 710 and 710 - 1000) micrometer. Also, the effect of collecting, drying and
transporting Sargassum Angustifolium algae on the total carotenoids extraction from dried algae was
studied. The ultimate extraction value of the carotenoids was found to be 0.29% from algae. A batch model
for extraction was created and numerically solved. The model parameters were calculated using existing
empirical correlations and data gathered during this project. The model predicts the mass transport rate
constant and saturation capacity at various temperatures. Furthermore, the energy of activation and
frequency factor of the extraction process were enumerated and it was found that the process is
endothermic with activation energy equals 28.9 kJ/mol. The utilized mathematical model agreed well with
the experimental data, allowing it to be used in modeling and improving the carotenoids extracting process
from Sargassum Angustifolium algae.
Keywords: Sargassum Angustifolium algae, Carotenoids, Extraction, Kinetics, Modeling
Corresponding Author:
Abbas Khalaf Mohammad
Department of Chemical Engineering
College of Engineering
University of Al-Qadisiyah
Al- Qadisiyah, Iraq
E-mail: abbas.shuaab@qu.edu.iq
1. Introduction
Carotenoids (also known as carotenoid extract) are natural yellow, red or orange pigments. Almost carotenoid
pigments are carotenoids derived from plants. Carotenoids are observed in the chloroplasts as a part of the
biosynthetic system in green vegetation, but they are more numerous, marked, and colorful in fruits, flowers
and roots [1]. Those photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria, algae and higher plants, and also some
non-photosynthetic organisms like bacteria and fungi have the ability to biosynthesize carotene in nature [2],
[3]. Carotenoids play an important role in human health and survival. Also, they can boost the immune
system, protect against cancer, and also act as an antioxidant. Therefore, carotenoids are an excellent oxygen
scavenger, and are used as food coloring, food additives, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics because they bring
health benefits to consumers [4].
The brown alga of Sargassum Angustifolium widely grows in the equatorial zone of Asia and it is a native
Iraqi alga with colorful properties. It is abundant in the marine waters of the Shatt al-Arab in all seasons.
Therefore, it can be considered as a sustainable source of carotenoid pigments.
Carotenoids are poly isoprene substances composed of eight isoprene units and forty carbon atoms, with the