Methodological Scope of Standard NCh0765 for the Determination of Total Impurities by Washing in Algae of the Genus Gracilaria
- Gracilaria chilensis,
- impurities,
- phycocolloids,
- exports
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Abstract
Due to contradictory experimental results obtained in the determination of impurities by washing in algae of the genus Gracilaria, compared to sieving and manual
separation, the methodological basis described by the Instituto Nacional de Normalización (INN) to the normative NCh0765 was analyzed. Our results show that for
the same sample, 2.4 ± 0.9% of impurities were determined by sieving and manual separation analysis, while 31.9 ± 2.9% was detected by the washing methodology.
This difference would be mainly due to the exudation of organic compounds, principally the phycocolloid Agar, during the washing procedure which loss can range
from 10 - 20%. The differences in impurities according to the methodology could have consequences for the export restrictions of algal resources due to current
Chilean regulations and buyers' demands.
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