Alginate Fibre Production Process
topic
Production process: (1) brown seaweed extraction with sodium carbonate (pH 10-11) at 50-80°C, (2) filtration and precipitation with acid or calcium chloride, (3) purification yielding sodium alginate powder, (4) dissolution in water (3-8% solution), (5) wet spinning through spinnerets into calcium chloride bath (2-5%) or combined CaCl₂/H₂SO₄ bath forming calcium alginate gel fibres, (6) washing, (7) conversion to various forms (calcium, sodium-calcium, or zinc alginate) for specific applications.
Role
Simple, environmentally benign process using renewable seaweed biomass without toxic chemicals, though fibre properties (low tenacity 1-2 g/den) limit applications primarily to nonwovens and medical textiles.