Synonyms | Products of commerce are sold under different names such as:
Irish moss gelose
Eucheuman (from Eucheuma spp.)
Iridophycan (from Iridaea spp.)
Hypnean (from Hypnea spp.)
Furcellaran or Danish agar (from Furcellaria fastigiata)
Carrageenan (from Chondrus and Gigartina spp.)
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Definition | Carrageenan is obtained by aqueous extraction of natural strains of seaweeds of Gigartinaceae, Solieriaceae, Hypneaeceae and Furcellariaceae, families of the class Rhodophyceae (red seaweeds). No organic precipitant shall be used other than methanol, ethanol and propane-2-ol. Carrageenan consists chiefly of the potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium salts of polysaccharide sulphate esters which, on hydrolysis, yield galactose and 3,6-anhydrogalactose. Carrageenan shall not be hydrolysed or otherwise chemically degraded |
EINECS | 232-524-2 |
Description | Yellowish to colourless, coarse to fine powder which is practically odourless |
Identification |
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A.Positive tests for galactose, for anhydrogalactose and for sulphate | |
Purity |
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Methanol, ethanol, propane-2-ol content | Not more than 0,1 % singly or in combination |
Viscosity of a 1,5 % solution at 75 oC | Not less than 5 mPa.s |
Loss on drying | Not more than 12 % (105 oC, four hours) |
Sulphate | Not less than 15 % and not more than 40 % on the dried basis (as SO4) |
Ash | Not less than 15 % and not more than 40 % determined on the dried basis at 550 oC |
Acid-insoluble ash | Not more than 1 % on the dried basis (insoluble in 10 % hydrochloric acid) |
Acid-insoluble matter | Not more than 2 % on the dried basis (insoluble in 1 % v/v sulphuric acid) |
Low molecular weight carrageenan (Molecular weight fraction below 50 kDa) | Not more than 5 % |
Arsenic | Not more than 3 mg/kg |
Lead | Not more than 5 mg/kg |
Mercury | Not more than 1 mg/kg |
Cadmium | Not more than 1 mg/kg |
Total plate count | Not more than 5 000 colonies per gram |
Yeast and moulds | Not more than 300 colonies per gram |
E. coli | Negative in 5 g |
Salmonella spp. | Negative in 10 g |