Studies to improve the extraction of mannitol and alginic acid fromMacrocystis pyrifera, a marine brown alga

Abstract

Yields of mannitol and alginic acid from dry and freshMacrocystis pyrifera under different extraction conditions were characterized. Using seawater as the solvent for mannitol extraction, yields up to 98.5% of the total mannitol (12.4%) were obtained. A 4% Na2CO3 solution at 60°;C gave the highest yield of alginic acid (21.5%), but a 2% Na2CO3 extraction at room temperature (20.4%) was almost as effective. Thus crude mannitol and alginic acid can be obtained more economically than previously.