Commercial scale production of agar from the red alga Gracilana edulis (Gmelin) SUva

Agar is produced on commercial scale from August, 1999 onwards in the Agar Plant at Re,gional Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mandapam C;unp using the red seaweed Graci/aria edulis (Kanji Pasi) as raw material. Agar is manufactured in sheet fonn by washing the dried seaweed in the ~gitator tank, treating with Hc1, cooking in the digester by passing steam, collecting the agar gel in aluminium trays, freezing the gel in freezing unit, thawing, bleaching and sun-drying of agar sheets. The yield of agar is found to be 6 to 8%. The gel strength, gelling and melting temperature of 1.5% agar ranged from 74 to 122 gicm', 44 to 46"C and 95 to 97"C respectively. The bleacbed agar sheets are marketed by packing them in polythene bags. The methods for improving the yield and quality of agar are suggested.