commercial use of algae

Algae and algal products, such us agar, carragenin furcellarian and algins, have been used by humans for various purposes from time immemorial. For instance, during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries soda was extracted from algae for use in glass manufacture and a century aga were the predominant source of raw material for iodine production. Seventy-eight species of algae produce agents of the group geloses, which includes agar. Agar is now produced in United States, Australia and New Zealand and, since the fifteenth century, in Japan. It is well known as a solidifying agent in bacteriological culture media, and is also used in dentistry, cosmetics and medicines (it can be used to assist slimming and as a laxative and to aid the healing of wounds). It is used in meat, fish and poultry canning and can be seen as a thickening agent in desserts, as a clarifying agent in beer and wine production and can even function as a wire-drawing lubricant.