An improved method for the manufacture of gelling carrageenens from seaweed, wherein mono-component seaweed is subjected to a heterogeneous reaction step, one or more washing step, and further workup provides for substantial savings in alkali costs as non-expensive alkalis, such as NaOH, Na2CO3,Na-phosphates, K2CO3, K-phosphates, ammonia may be used in the heterogeneous reaction step. A pair of springs is mounted on the outside of the plane and supports the union section of a yoke with attached wheels against the plane body. The rack based system can include a modular rack that is configurable to hold a desired number of containers.