Isolation and functionalization of carrageenan produces a composite with increased swelling capacity Caroline N. Munyiri 1,2 , Edwin Madivoli 2 , Jackline Kisato 3 1 Ministry of Education, Kenya, 2 Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya, 3 Kenyatta University, Kenya Synthetic hydrogels are non-biodegradable and an environmental pollutant which contribute to presence of microplastics found along the food chain with undocumented health effects. This project seeks to synthesize high swelling hydrogels from biopolymers as a mitigating strategy against petroleum-based hydrogels. It seeks to isolate carrageenan from Eucheuma cottonii through alkaline treatment using NaOH, and esterification using monochloroacetic acid to obtain carboxymethyl carrageenan (CMC). CMC was formed as a result of the formation of intermolecular bonds occasioned by the presence of C=O groups. Characterization using FTIR, a spectra vibrational frequency of the carbonyl functional group was observed at 1652 cm -1 . TGA/DSC thermograms were done to show a degree of crystallinity. Also XRD was carried out and thermal stability was observed from powder diffractograms and in which there was loss of water and also degradation. From SEM micrographs, it was observed that the composite comprised multiple layers stacked together in a repeating pattern. These highly porous and interconnected multiple layers were as a result of strong ionic and electrostatic interactions. In conclusion, the swelling capacity of the CMC was higher compared to that of carrageenan alone. Further investigation should be done by crosslinking CMC with other biopolymers by using organic crosslinking agents and a comparison be made. References 1. Chandra, M. V. (2018). Study of proton-conducting polymer electrolyte based on K-carrageenan and NH4SCN for electrochemical devices. Ionics, 24(11), 3535–3542. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-018-2521-7 2. Dey, K., Agnelli, S., Serzanti, M., Ginestra, P., Scarì, G., Dell’Era, P., & Sartore, L. (2019). Preparation and properties of high performance gelatin-based hydrogels with chitosan or hydroxyethyl cellulose for tissue engineering applications. International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials, 68(4), 183–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/00914037. 2018.1429439 3. Diharmi, A., Rusnawati, & Irasari, N. (2019). Characteristic of carrageenan Eucheuma cottonii collected from the coast of Tanjung Medang Village and Jaga Island, Riau. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 404(1). https:// doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/404/1/012049 4. Rhim, J. W., & Wang, L. F. (2014). Preparation and characterization of carrageenan-based nanocomposite films reinforced with clay mineral and silver nanoparticles. Applied Clay Science, 97–98(April 2020), 174–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. clay.2014.05.025 5. Sathishkumar, G., Aarthi, M., Senthilkumar, R., Nithiya, P., Selvakumar, R., & Bhattacharyya, A. (2019). Biodegradable Cellulosic Sanitary Napkins from Waste Cotton and Natural Extract Based Anti-bacterial Nanocolorants. Journal of the Indian Institute of Science, 99(3), 519–528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41745-019-00123-x 6. Shigwenya, M. E., Veronique, S. J., Gachoki, K. P., Ngure, G. A., & Margarethe, F. K. (2023). Stimuli Responsive and Antimicrobial Cellulose-Chitosan Hydrogels Containing Polydiacetylene Nanosheets. https://doi.org/10.5281/ zenodo.7500539#.Y7PYAkuVkW0.mendeley 7. Thanakkasaranee, S., Jantanasakulwong, K., Phimolsiripol, Y., Leksawasdi, N., Seesuriyachan, P., Chaiyaso, T., Jantrawut, P., Ruksiriwanich, W., Sommano, S. R., Punyodom, W., Reungsang, A., Ngo, T. M. P., Thipchai, P., Tongdeesoontorn, W., & Rachtanapun, P. (2021). High substitution synthesis of carboxymethyl chitosan for properties improvement of carboxymethyl chitosan films depending on particle sizes. Molecules, 26(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26196013
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