Karakteristik Mutu dan Konsumsi Energi Produksi Semi-Refined Carrageenan Berbantu Gelombang Ultrasonikasi Discontinuous

Abstract

Salah satu kendala dalam produksi Semi-Refined Carrageenan (SRC) menggunakan metode konvensional yaitu memerlukan energi yang tinggi serta berisiko menurunkan mutu akibat suhu dan waktu proses yang lama. Ultrasonikasi diskontinu dipilih sebagai alternatif perlakuan alkali yang lebih hemat energi. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh suhu dan waktu perlakuan alkali berbantuan ultrasonikasi diskontinu terhadap mutu dan konsumsi energi SRC. Perlakuan alkali KOH 8% (rasio 1:10 b/v) menggunakan metode ultrasonikasi diskontinu pada suhu 40 dan 50 °C selama 30 dan 60 menit dan metode konvensional (80 °C, 120 menit). Suhu berpengaruh nyata (p<0,05) terhadap rendemen, sedangkan waktu berpengaruh nyata (p<0,05) terhadap karaginan terekstrak, kadar air, kadar abu, dan kekuatan gel. Analisis FTIR mengidentifikasi gugus khas kappa-karaginan. Perlakuan terpilih (40 °C selama 30 menit) menghasilkan rendemen tertinggi (57,43±1,68%), kekuatan gel tertinggi (488,79±29,81 g/cm²) dan specific energy consumption terendah (0,23 ± 0,01 kWh/g) dibandingkan metode konvensional.

Kata kunci: efisiensi energi, Kappaphycus alvarezii, perlakuan alkali, ultrasonikasi diskontinu

One constraint in the production of Semi-Refined Carrageenan (SRC) using the conventional method is that it requires high energy and risks quality degradation due to prolonged temperature and processing time. Discontinuous ultrasonication was selected as a more energy-efficient alternative for alkali treatment. This study aimed to analyze the effect of temperature and time of alkali treatment assisted by discontinuous ultrasonication on SRC quality and energy consumption. Alkali treatment with 8% KOH (ratio 1:10 w/v) was carried out using the discontinuous ultrasonication method at temperatures of 40 and 50 °C for 30 and 60 minutes, and the conventional method (80 °C, 120 minutes). Temperature significantly affected (p<0.05) yield, while time significantly affected (p<0.05) dissolved carrageenan, moisture content, ash content, and gel strength. FTIR analysis identified characteristic kappa-carrageenan groups. The selected treatment (40 °C for 30 minutes) produced the highest yield (57.43±1.68%), the highest gel strength (488.79±29.81 g/cm²), and the lowest specific energy consumption (0.23±0.01 kWh/g) compared to the conventional method. Keywords: alkali treatment, discontinuous ultrasonication, energy efficiency, Kappaphycus alvarezii