The determination of alginic acid from brown algae was reported by Davis (1950) and by Steriner and McNeely (1951). The latter authors enhanced the utility of alginic acid as emulsifier by converting it to propylene glycol alginate. Such form of alginic acid derivative exhibits high viscosity property even at low concentration. Another form of alginic acid salt is algin, popularly known as sodium alginate.
Alginic acid in both forms of inorganic and organic esters has found commercial acceptance as a thickening and emulsifying agent. Calcium alginate, an insoluble inorganic salt of alginic acid, is popularly used as surgical thread. It is highly recommended in sewing internal wounds because the thread gradually dissolves, especially in alkaline medium (Cady, 1948).
Woodward (1951) reported that Great Britain made no less than 500,000 pound sterling annually in the production of alginate chemicals from seaweeds.
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