Patent ID: 7838641

Claim:
A process for the production of alginate having a mannuronic acid-content of at least 80 mole %, the process comprising the steps of: a) swelling fresh or dried algae or seaweed selected from at least one member of the group consisting of Durvillea, Laminaria, Lessonia, Fucales and Ascophyllum in water under stirring, in a ratio of 1:3 to 1:20, respectively, at a pH between 2.3 and 7, while maintaining a temperature above 20° C. for at least 30 minutes and forming a suspension of a solid material and a liquid fraction comprising the alginate having a mannuronic acid-content of at least 80 mole % with the proviso that said water used to swell said fresh or dried algae or seaweed does not contain formaldehyde, b) separating said liquid fraction comprising the alginate having a mannuronic acid-content of at least 80 mole % from the solid material of the suspension formed in step a) by a separation method, wherein said alginate having a mannuronic acid-content of at least 80 mole % is obtained having a yield of from 2-10%, and, optionally, c) recovering said alginate having a mannuronic acid-content of at least 80 mole % from the liquid fraction.