| dc.description.abstract | Proteins take part in virtually every process within the cell.
They are a vital component of any diet as a source of energy and essential amino acids (EEA) that the body is not capable of synthesizing. Without supplements, the only way to obtain all EEAs is through a diet containing animal protein.
An increasing global population has made it necessary to explore alternative sources of protein to meet demands. Proteins from animals represent a challenge due to the need for land to grow feed, fresh water used both by livestock and crops and the concern that livestock contributes significantly to the release of greenhouse gasses.
Algae have gained increased interest in recent years, especially in the Western world, due the potential that some species contain high amounts of protein and all essential amino acids. However, due to concerns that the high polysaccharide and polyphenol content of the cellular walls may inhibit protein digestion, cheap and simple protein extraction methods need to be developed. In this thesis, the objective was to test established protocols for the red algae Palmaria palmata and Vertebrata lanosa.
In this work, a special focus was given to V. lanosa since not much research has been done on this species. Different buffer solutions, the timeframe for the alkaloid extraction, were tested. Furthermore, the pH for optimal precipitation, rehydration temperature, dry-weight biomass:water ratio as well as the pH for the alkaline extraction were investigated for the optimal protein yield.
Some challenges were encountered during the laboratory studies, as the alkaline extracts proved to be very viscous samples and the precipitation of proteins were compromised.
The parameters which gave the best protein yield for V. lanosa was; NaOH incubation should be carried out for 1 hour, at 220C and a pH of 9.0. The biomass:water ratio should be 1:100 and proteins should be precipitated at a pH of 3.5. | |