International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences IJBAS-IJENS Vol:13 No:05 17 134905-8383- IJBAS-IJENS @ October 2013 IJENS I J E N S Parameters Controlled on Indonesian Sargassum duplicatum Extraction Process To Obtain a Water-Soluble Alginate Joddy Arya Laksmono 1*) , Robert Ronal Widjaya 1 , Firman Triajie 2 , Santoso Sastrosoeparno 3 1 The Research Centre for Chemistry, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Kawasan PUSPIPTEK, Serpong 15314, Indonesia, ph. +62-21-7560929, fax. +62-21-7560549 2 The Center for Innovation, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong Science Center, Cibinong, Indonesia 3 Balai Besar Tekstil, Jl. Jend. A. Yani Nr. 390, Bandung, West Java, 40272, Indonesia *) e-mail: joddy_arya_laksmono@yahoo.com Abstract-- Alginate is a family of organic polymeric polysaccharides is composed of two monomer units of guluronic acid (G) and mannuronic acid (M) or both alternating (GGMM). Alginate compound found in the cell walls of brown seaweed in the form of crystals arranged in parallel on fine threads and cellulose in the cell fluid. This study was conducted to obtain alginate products are soluble in water and it has sufficient viscosity. Optimization does on the extraction process to obtain seaweed alginate. The main parameter to be achieved is the efficiency of the process, both technically and economically. In this research, the extraction process has been carried out in stages to make the pH controlled. pH controlled has been carried out with the addition of HCl and Na 2 CO 3 . From the research, product characterization and analysis of physical chemistry by analyzing the moisture content, ash content, viscosity, solubility in water and colors. Then do the validation for the resulting alginate compounds using FTIR, LCMS and NMR. Results of 1 H and 13 C NMR analysis showed ties between the H and C atoms to form a compound with a structure like guluronic acid and mannuronic acid. This data is reinforced by the results of the FTIR analysis showed that functional groups contained in the alginate, and the results are showing molecular weight LCMS analysis of the alginate. From these results it can be concluded that the sample obtained from the extraction of the seaweed is alginate. Index Term-- alginate, polysaccharide, extraction, guluronic acid, mannuronic acid. 1. INTRODUCTION Alginate is a family of organic polymeric polysaccharides are composed of two monomer units of β-D guluronic acid (G) and α-L mannuronic acid (M) or both alternating (GGMM) as shown in Figure 1 (Truus et al. 2001; Soares et al. 2004). Alginate was first discovered by a British chemist ECC STANFORD extracted from brown seaweed (Phaeophyta) in the form of alginic acid. Then patented in 1881 (Draget et al. 2006; Ali, 2001; McHugh 1987). Alginate compound found in the cell walls of brown seaweed in the form of crystals arranged in parallel on fine threads and cellulose in the cell fluid (Truus et al. 2001). Alginates in brown seaweed commonly bound with sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium and are not soluble in water (Ali 2001; Higuera et al. 2002; McHugh 1987). Alginate extraction techniques performed in a variety of ways, Ali (2001) claims there are 20 ways to extract alginates from brown algae. Extraction of alginate can be made a variety of products such as alginic acid, sodium alginate, calcium alginate, potassium alginate, ammonium alginate and propylene glycol alginate. Sodium alginate mainly used in the food industry, the pharmaceutical and medicine that serves as a "thickening, stabilizing and emulsifying agent" (McHugh, 1987; Chapman & Chapman, 1980). The niche for the alginate industry in Indonesia from 2008 - 2011 approximately 2,000 tons per year and all are imported. Use of the biggest is textile industry (50%), whereas only 3% for food (Murtini, et al. 2000). Alginate is a viscous organic polymer that is non-toxic and so widely used in industry, resulting from brown macroalgae, especially Sargassum. Potential raw material (alginofit) available in Indonesian waters is relatively abundant, so it can be modified extraction process. The purpose of this extraction process is to obtain optimum extraction process conditions so as to produce sodium alginate sodium alginate with better characteristics. Another component that affects the price is the viscosity. The higher viscosity gives the more expensive (SIGMA 2004). Viscosity is influenced by the degree of acidity (pH), the pH 5-10 stable viscosity, but the pH below 4.5 and above 11 viscosity will easily degraded (labile). We have been obtained modification processing methods that produce high-viscosity alginate. Fig. 1. Molecular structure of alginic acid (A) M = Mannuronic segment; (B) G = guluronic segment, and (C) GGMM = guluronic and Mannuronic segment. Potential sources of alginate can be found in marine brown algae (Phaeophyta) and most common in temperate regions. These algae are species of Ascophyllum, Macrocystis, Laminaria, Durvillaea, Ecklonia, Laessonia, Sargassum and Turbinaria. In the Philippines Sargassum and Turbinaria exported to Japan for animal feed and fertilizer. In Indonesia brown algae Sargassum, Turbinaria