Characterization of Carrageenan Nitrogen Content and its Susceptibility to Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Abstract
Carrageenan extracted from Eucheuma cottonii and Chondrus crispus contained small but significant concentrations of nitrogen. Analysis of the nitrogen content by the Lowry and Coomassie Blue protein methods indicated that the nitrogen was largely proteinaceous in nature and not bound ammonia. Treatment of extracted carrageenans with proteases suggested that a portion of the nitrogen could be removed by enzymatic hydrolysis. Nitrogen losses resulted in changes in carrageenan solution properties which were similar in pattern to those observed during commercial alkaline modification of carrageenan. These results indicated that the presence of bound protein may be an important determinant in the reactivity and properties of carrageenan. © 1987 IEEE. All rights reserved.