Table 1. Preliminary experimental conditions evaluated for the preparation of calcium alginate beads without astaxanthin and results of physical characteristics.

The word “ALG” denotes alginate.

Code name	CaCl2 concn.(%)	Tween 20 in ALG (%)	ALG concn.(%)	Glycerol/H2O	Needle (G)	Stirring rate(rpm)	Stirring time(min)	Weight (g)	Weight (%)	Diameter (μm)
A	20	0.5	3	50/50	27	150	15	-	-	-
B	20	0.5	1	0/100	27	150	15	0.21±0.02	9.1±0.8	728.7±194.3
C	10	0.5	1	0/100	27	150	15	0.18±0.02	15.4±1.6	620.3±92.0
D	2	0.5	1	0/100	27	150	15	0.15±0.03	45.8±10.3	566.0±92.5
E	5	0.5	1	0/100	27	150	15	0.15±0.02	23.7±3.1	601.9±98.3
F	2	0.5	2	0/100	27	150	15	0.27±0.02	57.9±4.2	726.8±78.6
G	10	0.5	2	0/100	27	150	15	0.41±0.07	31.0±5.8	822.0±100.9
H	5	0.5	2	0/100	27	150	15	0.31±0.03	40.6±5.0	749.0±61.1
I	10	0.5	1	0/100	24	150	15	0.18±0.01	15.4±0.9	712.8±89.9
J	2	0.5	2	0/100	24	150	15	0.27±0.01	59.4±2.0	838.7±66.9
K	20	0.5	2	0/100	27	150	15	0.53±0.11	21.6±.3	885.6±112.6
L	5	0.5	3	0/100	27	150	15	0.50±0.01	56.0±0.8	903.2±59.0
M	2	0.5	3	0/100	24	150	15	0.45±0.02	77.6±2.7	994.5±100.0
N	10	0.5	3	0/100	24	150	15	0.63±0.02	43.9±2.3	1029.2±99.7
O	10	0.5	3	0/100	24	150	30	0.57±0.04	39.5±2.8	1047.7±121.4
P	10	0.5	3	0/100	24	150	60	0.61±0.02	42.4±0.6	1112.9±71.1
Q	20	0.5	3	0/100	24	150	15	0.78±0.10	30.2±3.8	1136.9±90.5
R	20	0.5	3	0/100	24	150	30	0.77±0.03	29.6±1.0	1171.7±124.0
S	20	0.5	3	0/100	27	150	15	0.77±0.07	29.7±2.6	1053.4±99.7
T	5	0.5	3	0/100	24	150	15	0.51±0.01	56.9±0.9	1041.3±86.6
U	20	0.5	3	0/100	24	150	60	0.84±0.05	32.6±1.9	1156.4±88.9
V	5	0	3	0/100	24	150	15	0.50±0.04	55.8±3.8	1199.4±94.0
W	20	0	3	0/100	24	150	15	0.75±0.04	29.1±1.5	1326.4±130.8
X	5	2	3	0/100	24	150	15	0.55±0.01	62.1±1.2	1026.2±46.2
Y	20	2	3	0/100	24	150	15	0.94±0.03	36.2±1.2	1192.5±64.3
Z	20	0.5	3	10/90	27	150	15	1.24±0.08	48.2±1.5	1460.2±214.5
AA	20	0.5	3	20/80	27	150	15	1.23±0.10	47.6±3.2	1356.3±77.5
AB	20	0.5	3	0/100	24	300	30	0.74±0.11	28.7±0.9	1332.2±513.2
AC	20	0.5	3	0/100	24	500	30	0.74±0.09	28.7±5.7	1162.4±176.8