Good day to everyone! I am currently doing a study chitosan-based active packaging films and I am planning on incorporating seaweed extracts from Caulerpa racemosa, Gracilaria heteroclada, and Kappaphycus alvarezii to them. Based on the literature that I have read, methanol is the ideal solvent to use in extracting the antimicrobial compounds present in the seaweeds. However, my professor told me to make sure and if possible, find another solvent to use for extracting the seaweeds as methanol is known to be toxic. Since I am going to incorporate the extracts of the seaweeds to active packaging films specifically for breads, of course I have to use a solvent that is safe and non-toxic to human consumers. My question is: Can methanol extraction be food grade? Also, are there other solvents that are food-grade that can be used in extracting the antimicrobial components of the seaweeds? Any reply would be much appreciated! Thank you so much!
Water is the only nontoxic solvent to humans. If it does not work, ethanol can be a choice if very little of it remains. Methanol cannot be used anyway because of its high toxicity.
Thank you for the help, Sir! I think I'll be using 80% ethanol instead of the 80% methanol that I've read from a literature.
Ethanol or water should be used. Ethanol can be evaporated. You should be careful with your extracts as food additive as some of them can be toxic. For example, Caulerpa algae are toxic.
Thank you for informing me, Sir Sergey! My extracts will be incorporated to chitosan-based active packaging films which will then be wrapped around bread samples free from any preservatives. Will the toxic substances still affect the product even though I will not use the extracts directly as food additives? I was not really aware of its toxicity since Caulerpa seaweeds, specifically the species lentilifera and racemosa, are usually eaten here in the Philippines. Thanks again!
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