SEAWEED IN USE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 135, 9 June 1945, Page 11

SEAWEED IN USE

NEW BIG INDUSTRY

Whenever you eat ice cream, jelly, or custard, apply a salve to a burn, go into hospital for an operation, or call a welder to mend a leaking petrol tank or radiator, you are probably making use of one of Britain's newest and least-known war materials—seaweed, states the London "Daily Telegraph." Two years ago the Ministry of Supply dispatched a party of . scientists round the coasts of Britain to survey' the extent of the seaweed "crop." Now it is possible to disclose what has hitherto been a war secret, that the collection and processing of seaweed has grown almost to the dimensions of a national industry. It is still growing. _ One firm alone in the Home Counties uses between 15.000 and 20,000 tons of seaweed every year, most of which is imported from Eire. Much more is still needed. The Scottish Industrial Council, with the support of the Scottish Office, is now trying to achieve a big expansion of collection. The seaweed that is in bulk demand is the common type. From it is extracted calcium alignate, a gelatinous substance closely allied to cellulose. A bewildering variety of articles can be made from it.

Calcium alignate goes into various kinds of foodstuffs. It makes surgical materials, non-inflammable or soluble textiles, and medicines. It is used to make capsules of all kinds and is employed in the preparation of dried blood. In another form it is extensively used in brain and eye surgery. It is also used in the manufacture of paint and plastics. This new industry is the result of the work of British scientists. It had a pre-war beginning, but its rapid development followed the entry of Japan into the war.

Previously, England imported from Japan every year hundreds of tons of agar-agar, a gelatinous substance ot great importance to-scientific work as the medium for bacteria culture. It also has great mechanical value. During their survey in 1942 the scientific party discovered two types of red seaweed round British shores from which agar-agar could be produced. Under the aegis of the Ministry of Supply, a widespread collection has ben organised. Unlike the collection of the common seaweed, which provides occupation for crofters during the winter, the harvesting of the red seaweed is confined to the" summer. During the summer months parties of Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, W.V.S., and other volunteers will comb the beaches for the inconspicuous sea plant which contains the precious substance. Each party will be led by an expert who can differentiate between the useful and unwanted types.