ABSTRACT
Production of chemicals by bacterial fermentation has been known for decades and has now developed into an important industry. Macroalgae are harvested for their polysaccharides including agar, alginic acid, and carrageenan, which are extracted commercially on a large scale. Microalgae, on the other hand, have scarcely been exploited by mankind, either as food or as a source for the production of beneficial materials. The soaring prices of fossil oil and its anticipated depletion have caused significant increases in the prices of chemicals and have generated interest in the cultivation of microalgae as raw materials for chemical production.
