Algal Polysaccharides, Novel Applications and Outlook

Marine algae contain large amounts of polysaccharides, notably cell wall structural, but also mycopolysaccharides and storage polysaccharides (Kumar et al. 2008b; Murata and Nakazoe 2001). Polysaccharides are polymers of simple sugars (monosaccharides) linked together by glycosidic bonds, and they have numerous commercial applications in products such as stabilisers, thickeners, emulsifiers, food, feed, beverages etc. (McHugh 1987; Tseng 2001; Bixler and Porse, 2010). The total polysaccharide concentrations in the seaweed species of interest range from 4-76 % of the dry weight (Table 1). The highest contents are found in species such as Ascophyllum, Porphyra and Palmaria, however, green seaweed species such as Ulva also have a high content, up to 65 % of dry weight.