ABSTRACT
Alginates occur in the cell walls and intercellular spaces of brown seaweed. The alginate molecules provide the plant with both flexibility and strength, which are necessary for plant growth in the sea. Alginate occurs in seaweed as an insoluble mix of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium salts in the gelled stage. The fact that it is in the gelled stage is important, since it is the only way that alginate can contribute to the strength and suppleness of the seaweed plant. The manufacturing process then involves precipitation to recover the product as insoluble alginic acid, either directly as alginic acid or through precipitation with calcium as calcium alginate, followed by an acid wash to transform it into alginic acid. The block structure distribution of an alginate extracted from brown algae is determined by alginate biosynthesis in the brown algae and its genetical and environmental control.
