The second process does save one step, the formation of calcium alginate, but it also has some disadvantages. When alginic acid is precipitated in this process, it forms a gelatinous precipitate which is very difficult to separate and the overall losses of alginic acid are generally greater than in the former process. The removal of liquid ("dewatering") from within the gel structure of the separated alginic acid also presents difficulties in this second process. The water content in the dewatered alginic acid is often high, so that alcohol must be used as a solvent for the conversion to sodium alginate. This usually makes the process more expensive unless the alcohol recovery rate is very good, and this is not easy to achieve.