Eletron Microscopic Observation of Calcium-Acetylated Seaweed Alginate Gel

Seaweed alginate was acetylated by activated carbon immobilized Pseudomonas syringae in a fluidized bed, up-flow reactor. The acetylation degree of seaweed alginate was about 30%. Calcium-acetylated seaweed alginate gel bead was made and compared to calcium-seaweed alginate gel bead by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Structural difference of two gel beads may results from increased viscosity and decreased affinity of acetylated seaweed alginate for calcium ion. On the basis of interior and exterior structure of calcium-acetylated seaweed alginate gels and property of acetylated seaweed alginate, it seems that acetylated seaweed alginate is used for the supporter for electrophoresis and packing materials for liquid chromatography and gel filtration.