ABSTRACT
References .......................................................................................................................... 328
Occurring as a structural component in marine brown algae (Phaeophyceae) and as capsular
polysaccharides in soil bacteria, alginates are quite abundant in nature. The annual industrial
production is about 30,000 metric tons, which is probably less than 10% of the material
biosynthesized annually in the standing macroalgae crops. As macroalgae may also be
cultivated — as done to a very large extent in mainland China — and as production by
fermentation is technically possible (although not economically feasible at the moment), the
sources for industrial production of alginate may be regarded as unlimited even for a steadily
growing industry.
