Marine Algae Uses

Japanese cooking has long used seaweed as a mainstay of its renowned cuisine. But marine algae has other medicinal and industrial uses that point to the power of nature. The healing properties of seaweed are utilized by the beauty industry and internal medicine. Industrial manufacturers use the slimy plant matter to fertilize crops and stabilize food products, though research continues to reveal the many uses of marine algae.

Food

• Japanese and Chinese aquaculture takes credit for cultivating the largest crop of edible seaweed in the world. Nori is a type of seaweed utilized by the Japanese in a number of sushi dishes and salads. Although Nori was perfected by Asian aquaculture, it was revealed as a possible crop by a British scientist named Dr. Kathleen Drew-Baker. Chinese aquaculture produces the large amounts of kelp for consumption. Kelp production in China began in 1952 when it was accidentally introduced into the environment by a stray Japanese plant.

Industrial Uses

• Different species of algae contain biochemicals that industries use in various ways. Carrageenan is extracted from red algae and used to stabilize dairy products. Alginic acid is formulated out of Brown algae components. The acid stabilizes the ingredients of gels, or gel-like products. It is used in foods, such as dessert gels and frozen pastry goods. Other industrial uses include adhesives, dyes and ceramics just to name a few. Even the dental industry includes algae as a component in the substance used to make dental impressions. Algae is added to fertilizers to promote crop growth and used by sewage treatment plants to filter inorganic materials out of the water. Both these uses draw attention to seaweed's ability to regenerate and purify.

Cosmetics

• The cosmetic industry often uses seaweed extracts to enhance skin care products. The nutrients present in seaweed are thought to have a regenerative power on the skin. The stabilizing capabilities of the plant also come in handy with gel-based products. Asian cultures tout the benefits of using algae in hair and skin products, but research continues on the beauty enhancing aspects of the plant.

Medicinal

• Brown and red algae are both used as bulking agents in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Pharmaceuticals also use the seaweed as a stabilizing agent in capsules and pills. The plant has a direct effect on the digestive system and is often added to laxative and ulcer treatments. Seaweed acts as a natural transport system for certain drugs, so it is often an added ingredient in slow release drugs.

Biofuel

• Research continues on the use of seaweed as biofuel. Fermentation and processing is required to extract the proper biochemicals from the plant for fuel. Industrial seaweed biofuel production is hampered by this arduous processing, so few large scale production sites exist. But researchers hope to use successes with aquaculture, in Norway and other places, as examples of how the future of seaweed biofuels can work.