Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Agar, algin and mannitol from some seaweeds of Lakshadweep

Volume 31 Issue 1&2

N. Kaliaperumal, S. Kalimuthu and J. R. Ramalingam

Abstract

Studies were made on the yield and physical properties of agar from Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria arcuata and G. edulis and algin and mannitol from Padina boergesenii, Chnoospom implexa, Sargassum duplicatum, Turbinaria conoides and T. ornata growing in eight islands of Lakshadweep. The yield of agar ranged from 16.9 to 43.1 % and gel strength from 42 to 278 gm/cm² in G. acerosa, G. arcuta and G. edulis. Algin varied from 4.4 to 27.3%and mannitol from 1.4 to 9.5% in the brown algae studied. The agar and algin yielding seaweeds can be exploited from Lakshadweep Islands as an additional resource of raw material to the Indian seaweed industries

Date : 31-12-1989