I need detailed instructions for converting algae into algenic acid. I would prefer not to use formaldehyde. I am using yellow/green algae so I do expect some adjustments may be needed from brown algae methods.
There are a number of protocols available that use ethanol instead of formaldehyde here’s one.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X24002089#sec0013
This articles protocol is as follows:
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Harvest algae, wash with tap water, soak in chlorinated water (25ppm) for 30min then dried at 45C.
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Grind dried algae and store in airtight container.
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6g of dried sample wash soaked in 99% ethanol for 3h then dried again at 40C, repeat.
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Pretreated algae then had 30% citric acid added til pH was 1.
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Sample was then ultrasonicated (180W, 15min). Washed with distilled water.
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2% sodium carbonate added (w/v) pH10 with magnetic stirring for 90min at 80C
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Filter, supernatant precipitated by addition of 2 volumes 100% EtOH, centrifuge and dry pellet at 40C for 15h.
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