Method for producing anhydrous galactose derived from seaweed

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing anhydrous galactose derived from seaweed, and provides an improved production yield of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose (AHG) from agarose or agar through multiple steps involving acid hydrolysis of agar or agarose for producing agarobiose, neutralization of the acid hydrolysate, and purification of AHG using a microorganism metabolizing galactose after enzymatic hydrolysis of agarobiose.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing agarobiose comprising
 reacting agarose or agar in an amount of 10% (w/v) to 37% (w/v) with respect to a dry weight with a phosphoric acid at a concentration of 0.1% (w/v) to 5% (w/v) at 80° C. to 140° C. for 5 minutes to 500 minutes and then adding a strong base therein such that a pH of a reaction product comprising agarobiose is adjusted to 5 to 7,   wherein a yield of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural in the reaction product is less than 1.5% (w/w), and   wherein the reaction product does not include agarotriose.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the strong base comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH) 2 , and Ba(OH) 2 .