Enhancing Seaweed Value With Low Temperature Drying / Muhammad Najman Bin Mohd Admi

Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology

Final Year Report (Bachelor of Chemical Engineering ) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah - 2025

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Kappaphycus alvarezii (formerly Eucheuma cottonii) is a commercially valuable seaweed prized for its carrageenan content. Carrageenan, a gel-forming polysaccharide, degrades at high temperatures. Sun drying, a traditional method, suffers from weather dependence and contamination risks (dust, dirt, sand). This can compromise the final product's quality and hygiene. Therefore, low-temperature tray drying emerges as a preferred method for preserving carrageenan yield while ensuring a high-quality and hygienic final product. The aim of this research is to identify the optimal low-temperature drying conditions for Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed, maximizing carrageenan yield. Seaweed was blanched at 70°C for 5-8 minutes and then dried at 40-70°C for 150-390 minutes. The oven method was utilized to assess the moisture content, and the microbiological enumeration will be conducted using a serial dilution procedure. A Central Composite Design (CCD) within Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the effects of blanching time, drying temperature, and drying time on moisture content. Statistical analysis (p < 0.05) revealed significant interactions between drying time and drying temperature, including their interaction term. Other factors and their interactions were found to be insignificant. The optimal drying conditions within studied range determined by RSM, were 8 minutes of blanching at 70°C followed by drying at 70°C for 395 minutes, resulting in a final microbial load of 5500 CFU/g. This study provides valuable insights for developing efficient and hygienic drying protocols for Kappaphycus alvarezii, enhancing the quality and value of this important seaweed resource.