Curdlan Gel Formed by Neutralizing Its Alkaline Solution

Abstract

When an aqueous alkaline solution of curdlan in the stationary state was neutralized with carbon dioxide, it became a firm gel with slight syneresis, the resultant gel showing high syneresis when freeze-thawed. This gel behavior differed from that of the gels obtained by heating an aqueous suspension of curdlan at high temperatures. The dried matter obtained by pressing the unheated gel to remove the water could be regenerated into a gel by soaking it in water. Curdlan powder, which was obtained by crushing the dried matter, was found to be a good material to form a gel. However, curdlan powder obtained from gels that were formed by heating an aqueous suspension of curdlan could not produce a good gel. An electron microscopic study showed no significant difference between the preparations of original curdlan and the gels formed by neutralizing its alkaline solution. © 1987, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.