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The author determined the occurrence of indole-3-acetic acid in sixteen Chinese marine algae collected from the east coast of China with fluorescence spectrophotometry (FS) and wheat coleoptile bioanalysis methods (WCB). The concentration of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) presented was from 1.1–46.9 ng/g Fw (fresh weight) with FS and 5.3–110.2 ng/g Fw with WCB. The results by the two methods were in the orders of 10−3–103 ng/g Fw reported previously from multiple references.

Four bromophenols were isolated from the extract of marine red alga,Rhodomela confervoides by column chromatography and HPLC methods. By means of spectroscopic methods inclding IR, MS, 1D, and 2D-NMR techniques, their structures were elucidated as (1) 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxy benzoic acid methyl ester; (2) bis (2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) ether; (3) 3,4-dibromo-5-(methoxymethyl)-1,2-benzenediol and (4) 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde. Compound 1 was first isolated from the algae in nature, and 1, 4 were found to have selective cytotoxic activities against KB, Bel 7402 and A549 cells, 2 showed powerful antibacterial activities againstStaphylococcus aurens andPseudomonas aeruginosa.

Measurements of three chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12) and trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFC-113), along with methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were made in water samples from Lake Washington, using Electron Capture-Gas Chromatography (EC-GC). The samples were collected in mid-autumn, a period when the lake's upper layer undergoes rapid cooling. At the time of sampling, a strong vertical temperature gradient was present in the lake, with surface temperatures of ∼14°C, and near bottom (50 meters) temperatures of ∼8°C. The concentrations of dissolved CFC-12 and CFC-11 increased with depth, as expected from the higher solubilities of these gases at lower temperatures. Atmospheric measurements made at the sampling site at the time of the cruise, showed that CFC-11 and CFC-12 saturations in the near surface samples were 100 % and 106 %, respectively. For the deepest sample (52 meters) CFC-11 and CFC-12 saturations were 102 % and 126 %. Because the surface layer of the lake responds to changes in atmospheric CFCs on a time scale of several weeks, the higher than equilibrium concentrations of CFC-12 observed at the time of sampling may reflect earlier episodes of elevated levels of atmospheric CFC-12 in this urban area. High concentrations of dissolved CFCs in runoff or industrial effluent might also lead to elevated CFC levels in the lake. The cold, deep water of Lake Washington is relatively isolated from the effects of surface gas exchange except during winter, and the supersaturations observed in the deep layer may reflect periods of elevated atmospheric CFC-12 levels from the previous winter season. These results were compared to summertime profiles of CFC-11 and CFC-12 made in 1994.

Cation-exchange chromatography was selected to extract and separate betaines from marine algae. On the basis of the special chemical characteristics of the betaines and their analogues, Dragendorff's reagent (KBiI4) was used to test the existence of betaines and their analogues in marine algae. The total content of betaines from seven species was obtained by using the Reinkeate salt precipitation method. The results showed that the content of betaines in two species of Chlorophyta and two species of Rhodophyta were relatively high, and that the content of betaines inEnteromopha prolifera could even reach to 0.9%. The content in the three species of Phaeophyta was relatively low.

Results of neutron activation analysis (NAA) ofSargassum thumbergii samples collected from the Qingdao Taipingjiao coast on March 20, 1996 showed that (1)Sargassum thunbergii can to some extent accumulate potassium and calcium (the accumulation coefficient was 10); (2) it can accumulate almost all trace elements, especially iron, managanese and zinc; (3) it can accumulate strontium, aluminium thorium, and rare earth elements.

Results of a series of experiments (on the adsorption of divalent metal ions by dried alginic acid, Na and Ca alginates of different composition and block structure) conducted in this systematic study of the effects of the composition and structure of alginates on the static adsorption equilibrium of divalent metal ions indicate that the properties of alginate adsorption to divalent metal ions are highly different, depending not only on the cations used, but also on the form and structure of the alginates. There is close correlation between the adsorption properties and the structure of the alginates. The selectivity coefficient of Na alginate for Cd-Sr ion exchange tends to increase with the increase of theM/G ratio in alginate, whereas the adsorption capacity of Ca alginate for Cu2+ ion decrease with the increase of the G-block or the average length of the G-block $$(\bar N_G )$$ and the total adsorption capacity of alginic acid is found to vary in the same order as theF MM(diad frequency) in alginate in the mixed solution of Sr2+, Ba2+ and Cd2+.