Granular alginic acid

Abstract. The binding properties of granular alginic acid(H-alg.) and chitin to iodine, bromine, cadmium ion, calcium ion and cholesterol were investigated. Chitin-iodine and chitin-bromine compounds closely resemble those of H-alg. The amount of iodine included by these polysaccharides increased with a decrease in the concentration of potassium iodide (KI). The number of sugar residues bound to one iodine molecule extrapolated to 0 g of KI was around 6.0 for H-alg. and 6.4 for chitin. These saccharides, which do not form a gel in water, were found to also absorb KI and radioactive iodide or iodine in aqueous solution. H-alg. did not show as much affinity to cadmium ion and calcium ion and cholesterol in iso-propyl alcohol as metal-alginates. 

Granular alginic acid(H-alg.)... H-alg. was prepared from the treatment with hydrochloric acid of sodium alginate by the same procedure described in the previous paper [1]. 

Figure 4 shows the porous structure of iodine-poly saccharide. The microscopic structure of chitin is very similar to that of granular alginic acid. 

Calcium Alginate occurs as a white to yellow, fibrous or granular powder. It is the calcium salt of alginic acid (see the monograph for Alginic Acid). It is insoluble in water, but it is soluble in alkaline solutions or in solutions of substances that combine with the calcium. It is insoluble in organic solvents. 

Manuf. by reaction of alginic acid with propylene oxide. White to yellowish fibrous or granular powder. Sol. H2O. 

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