Agar, algin and mannitol from some seaweeds of Lakshadweep

Studies were made on the yield and physical properties of agar from Gelidiella aceiosa, Gracilaria arcuata and G. edulis and algin and mannitol from Padim boergesenii, Chnoospom implexa, Sargassum duplkatum, Turbimria conoides and T, ormta 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/cm* in G. acerosa, G. arcuala 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.