Patent ID: 8647635

Claim:
A process for preparing a solution comprising a red microalga polysaccharide and a heavy metal compound selected from Zn, Cu, Se, Ni, Mn, and Ag bound to glucuronic monosaccharide residues and/or sulfated monosaccharide residues of said polysaccharide, consisting of the steps of: i) cultivating a red microalga of the genus selected from Porphyridium, Rhodella , and Dixoniella , in a cultivation mixture, thereby obtaining red microalga polysaccharide (RMP) dissolved in said mixture; ii) separating the microalga cells from said cultivation mixture; and iii) contacting the RMP in said cultivation mixture, before or after separating said microalgae cells therefrom, at a pH of sea water, with the heavy metal compound at a concentration higher than needed for supplying micronutrients to said microalga, said heavy metal compound being in an amount of from 0.02 to 2 wt % based on the RMP weight, thereby obtaining said solution.