OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SULPHATE BIOPOLYSACCHARIDE PRODUCTION FROM EDIBLE GREEN ALGAE Ulva Lactuca USING SURFACE RESPONSE METHOD

This research focuses on optimizing the production of sulfate biopolysaccharides from the edible green algae Ulva lactuca using surface response analysis. The objective was to identify the ideal conditions for extracting Ulvan, a sulfated polysaccharide from Ulvophyceae, by analyzing critical process factors-namely, temperature, HCl concentration, and heating duration. The study found the best extraction conditions at a temperature of 73°C, HCl concentration of 0.3 M, and heating duration of 4 hours, resulting in a 25.07% yield of Ulvan. The extracted Ulvan had a total sugar content of 0.1767 mg/mL and a sulfate content of 0.3143 mg/mL. Structural analysis conducted through FTIR and NMR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of typical sulfated polysaccharide signatures. Physical properties assessed using SEM, XRD, and TGA indicated that Ulvan is an amorphous material with substantial thermal stability. In biological evaluations, Ulvan demonstrated notable antioxidant properties, with an inhibition rate of 30.52% and a toxicity concentration (LC50) of 288.978 ppm. These findings highlight the potential of Ulvan in biopolymer production and suggest its applicability in developing algae-based products. The results contribute valuable insights into the biopolysaccharide extraction process, paving the way for future applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Keywords: Ulva Lactuca, Sulfate Biopolysaccharides, Response Surface Methodology, Ulvan Extraction, Thermal Stability, Antioxidant Properties, Algae-Based Biopolymers.