Properties of Low-Molecular Alginate by Ultrasound

Response Surface Methodology was applied for optimizing the processing parameters of ultrasound treatment in order to produce low-molecular alginate. The use of ultrasound significantly reduced viscosity of alginate solutions. Suggested parameters of ultrasound treatment for maximum reduction of alginate molecular weight were: specific intensity, 115.81 $W/cm^2$ at 20kHz frequency; treatment time, 35.55 min; temperature, $20.08^{\circ}C$; alginate concentration, $2.5\%$. Low-molecular alginate obtained by ultrasound had two peaks on Sepharose CL-6B gel filtration. The viscosities of control, fraction I, and fraction II at $0.1\%$ concentration and $25^{\circ}C$ were 3.07, 1.23, and 0.82cps, respectively. Molecular weights of control, fraction I, and fraction II alginates were 336,500, 70,400, and 52,800 daltons, and their solubilities were 3, 6, and $14\%$, respectively. The lower molecular weight of alginate, the lower the alcohol precipitation and the higher $Ca^{2+}$ ion binding capacities. Heavy metal ion binding capacities of alginates were high in the following order of Pb, Cd, Zn, and Co.