Mineral constituents and ion-exchange property of some brown seaweeds from the Indian Coast

238-239Both 'free' (water soluble) and 'fixed' (water insoluble) mineral constituents, alginic acid and fucoidan content of 5 species of brown seaweeds (Cystoseira indica, Sargassum tenerrimum S swartzii, Padina pavonica and Turbinaria conoides) from the Indian coast were determined. The weeds after conversion to H+ form were evaluated for their ion exchange capacity which was correlated with their 'fixed' cationic content. Ion exchange capacity of the weeds was found to be higher than that can be accounted by their alginic and fucoidan contents; indicating thereby presence of other constituents with ionogenic groups in the seaweeds