Carrageenan each plant weighs approximately 1 kg. The "E. cottonii" variety has been reclassified as "Kappaphycus cottonii" by Maxwell Doty (1988), thereby introducing the genus "Kappaphycus", on the basis of the phycocolloids produced (namely kappa carrageenan). After harvest, the seaweed is dried, baled, and sent to the carrageenan manufacturer. There the seaweed is ground, sifted to remove impurities such as sand, and washed thoroughly. After treatment with hot alkali solution (e.g., 5–8% potassium hydroxide), the cellulose is removed from the carrageenan by centrifugation and filtration. The resulting carrageenan solution is then concentrated by evaporation. It is dried and ground to specification.
Personal lubricant Aloe Cadabra, manufactured by Seven Oaks Farms in Ventura, America, became the first personal lubricant certified to the new NSF/ANSI 305 Organic Body Care Standards. FlowMotion Organic Lubricant, manufactured by Alaron Products in Nelson, New Zealand, was certified 99% organic and introduced into the market in June 2014. FlowMotion is one of two BioGro NZ Certified organic personal lubricants in the country. In New Zealand, BioGro NZ is the premier certifier of organics, and is an Internationally Accredited Programme. Carrageenan, a type of sulfated polysaccharide extracted from red algae and the base ingredient in certain natural lubricants, has been shown