METHOD OF RED ALGAE PROCESSING Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: food industry. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to preparing carragheenan from red algae (Chondrus armatus). Algae are subjected for demineralization, carragheenan is extracted with water, obtained extract is purified, dried and carragheenan is prepared. To the purified extract cations of potassium, sodium, ammonium or calcium are added and the corresponding carragheenan salt is isolated. The use of metal salts and hydroxides is preferable. Carragheenan salts are isolated by dehydration, pressing or using alcohol followed by additional drying at 70 C, not above. To obtain salt useful for microbiological aims additional purification can be carried out that involves reprecipitation of ready product in distilled water or after dehydration stage. Method can be used for preparing thickening agents and jelly-forming agents. EFFECT: improved method of algae processing. 8 cl