Studies on Carrageenans from the Economic Red Algal Genus Eucheuma in Tanzania

Carrageenan yields of five Tanzanian species of Eucheuma have been determined. The mean yields obtained were 72.8%, 69.0%, 65.0%, 58.0% and 54.0% for E. spinosum J. Agardh, E. striatum Schmitz, E. platyeladum Schmitz, E. okamurai Yamada and E. speciosum J. Agardh f mauritianum Boergesen, respectively. Infrared spectroscopy studies were also conducted. E. striatum and E. okamurai showed absorption peaks characteristic of k-carrageenan; E. spinosum showed peaks characteristic of t-carrageenan. E. speciosum f. mauritianum and E. platycladum showed peaks more closely resembling those of i- than K-carrageenan. © 1977 Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.