Alginate as immobilization material. II: Determination of polyphenol contaminants by fluorescence spectroscopy, and evaluation of methods for their removal

Abstract
Alginates, both commercial and laboratory made, are strongly fluorescent due to small amounts of polyphenolic materials. These contaminants can be detected by fluorescence spectroscopy in concentrations lower than 1 ppm. This technique has been used to measure polyphenols in a wide range of alginates and various procedures for preparation of biotechnological‐grade alginates have been evaluated.