ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF ALGAE
Algae as Food source
·
Spirulina
platensis – Single Cell Protein (SCP) and widely
called as “Food for Future”
·
Chlorella is the source of Vitamin and Protein.
·
Chlorellin antibiotic is extracted from Chlorella.
· Brown and Red
seaweeds provide important economic products in the form of food for people and
resources in the manufacturing of Industrial products.
·
Red algae known
as “Nori (Porphyra tenera)” is a popular food in Japan.
·
Sea kale (algae) is consumed
dried or cooked into various stews or soups.
· Sea lettuce and Edible kelp are other
commonly eaten seaweeds. Examples: Ulva,
Laminaria, Sargassum and Chlorella.
·
In Japan, about
20 different kinds of Algae are being harvested and eaten.
·
‘Aonori’ is a preparation of Monostroma (sea lettuce), ‘Kombu’ of Laminaria.
·
Dulse (Palmaria palmata) another Red alga, is eaten primarily in the North
Atlantic region.
Algae in Agriculture
· Blue green algae like Oscillatoria, Anabaena, Nostoc, Aulosira
increase the soil fertility by fixing the atmospheric nitrogen.
· The large Brown
and Red algae are used as organic fertilizers, especially on land close to the
sea.
Economic Products Obtained from Algae
i) Agar - agar
·
Obtained from
the Red algae Gelidium and Gracilaria species
· It is used as a
solidifying agent for Culture medium while growing bacteria and fungi in the
laboratory.
·
It is also used
in the preparations of some medicines and cosmetics.
· Used in the
manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, preparation of jellied desserts
and soups.
· Alginates from Brown
seaweeds are used as thickening agents and stabilizers in the industrial
preparation of foods and pharmaceutical drugs.
ii) Carrageenin
·
An agar like
compound obtained from Red algae.
·
Widely used as
a stabilizer in paints, pharmaceuticals, and ice cream.
iii) Alginic acid
·
Obtained from Brown
algae.
·
Used as emulsifier
in ice creams, tooth pastes and cosmetics.
iv) Diatomite
·
Rock-like
deposit formed on the walls of Diatoms (algae of Chrysophyceae).
·
It consists of
large amount of Silica.
· When the
diatoms die they sediment to form ‘Diatomaceous earth’ and it has a high
proportion of Silica.
· Diatomite is
used as a sound proof and fire proof material, as an absorbent, in packing of
corrosive materials and also in the manufacture of dynamite.
Algae in Space travel
·
Chlorella pyrenoidosa is used in space travel to get rid of CO2
and other body wastes.
·
The algae multiply
rapidly and utilizes the CO2 and liberate O2 during Photosynthesis.
·
It decomposes
human urine and faeces to get N2 for protein synthesis.
Medicinal use
·
Alaria was once
used for strengthening the stomach and restoring the appetite after sickness.
·
Alginates are
used for their haemostatic nature
·
Fucoidin and Sodium
lamanarin sulphate are used as ‘Blood anticoagulant’.
·
Digenia
simplex, a Rhodophycean algae provides an Antihelminthic drug.
· Agar-agar, for
its absorptive and lubricating action, is used medicinally in the prevention of
constipation.
Sewage Disposal
·
Algae produce
abundant Oxygen by rapid Photosynthesis.
· The most common
algal species present in the sewage oxidation ponds are Chlamydomonas, Scenedesmus, Chlorella, Euglena, Eudorina and Pandorina.
· Microorganisms
like aerobic bacteria use Oxygen and decompose the Organic matter and thus the
sewage gets purified.
·
Crude oil and Natural
gas are the reminants of Photosynthetic products of ancient Algae.
Comments
Post a Comment