Physico-chemical characterization of biomaterial product from Kappaphycus Alverezii

Abstract

Kappaphycus Alverezii commonly known as brown seaweed has the highest natural polymers content red in algae family. The exceptional quality of the polymer enables them to be used as bio-material precursor. Seaweed is a natural abundance resource that contains gelators as the primary source of commercially available refined gelator. Its production cost is significantly low compared to existing commercial bio-materials due to simple solvent removal method. In order to improve end-product qualities, their density and physicochemical properties have to be controlled. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) were employed to study these changes besides other physical tests including Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). moisture absorption and tensile strength characterizations.