Studies on the Chemical Constitution of Agar-agar. XIX. Pyruvic Acid as a Constituent of Agar-agar (Part 1). Identification and Estimation of Pyruvic Acid in the Hydrolysate of Agar

Abstract

1. Pyruvic acid has been isolated as its 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone from the hydrolysate of agar for the first time.2. Quantitative determination has indicated that the content of pyruvic acid is 1.06% of agar or one residue for every fifty one hexose residues.3. It has been suggested that pyruvic acid would be an intrinsic constituent of agar.4. Several polysaccharides other than agar have been examined, but none of them produced pyruvic acid on hydrolysis.