Block 15: Macroalgae & Alginate

Question 1

What is phycroremediation?

Answer 1

The removal or biotransformation of pollutants, including nutrients & xenobiotics, from wastewater & CO2 from waste air using macroalage or microalgae

Question 2

What is macroalgae?

Answer 2

Large-scale algae (seaweed) with high water content, predominantly carbohydrate composition, & high ash/divalent metal content

Question 3

What is microalgae?

Answer 3

Single-cellular algae with high water, 1/3 protein, 1/3 carbohydrate, & 1/3 lipid composition, & low ash content

Question 4

What are the 3 types of macroalgae?

Answer 4

Chlorophyta (sea lettuce), rhodophyta (red algae), & phaeophyta (bladderwack)

Question 5

What is alginate?

Answer 5

A water-soluble polysaccharide primarily extracted from the cell walls of brown algae, composed of guluronic & mannuronic acid

Question 6

What is the egg box model?

Answer 6

An explanation of the gelation process of alginates, in which Ca2+ binds to guluronic acid blocks in alginate creating an ‘egg box’ structure to form beads of long chain polymers

Question 7

How is chromate reduction achieved through macroalgae?

Answer 7

Cr(III) binds to macroalgae cell wall protein through electron transfer