Both solid state (CP-MAS) and gel state (using standard solution state conditions) 13 C NMR spectroscopy have been used to characterize a range of red algae that produce either agar or carrageenan . These techniques allow rapid determination of phycocolloid type within the algal tissue before extensive and time-consuming extractions and fractionations are carried out .The gel state technique can be used on living or dried material . Gel state spectra give high resolution and, because of the expectation that they will be correlated with the extractable phycocolloid, provide promise of a powerful technique for screening potentially useful red algae .