Comprehensive and Precise Characterization of Agar Properties
Marine carbohydrates such as agar are widely used and their properties vary greatly depending on their source. Characterization of these carbohydrates not only ensures consistent product quality but is also critical for developing new agar products and optimizing agar-related product formulations. CD BioGlyco provides Plant Polysaccharide, Animal Polysaccharide, and Microbial Polysaccharide Characterization services to clients in multiple industries around the world with advanced Technologies.
Agar characterization is critical to determine agar's quality, consistency, and suitability for use in a variety of applications. Our agar characterization services use advanced techniques and methods to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of agar to ensure its performance meets specific industry requirements. Our services include:
Physical Properties of Agar
- Gel strength: Gel strength refers to the hardness of agar gel. We use a texture analyzer or osmometer to determine the hardness and stability of agar gel.
- Viscosity: We use a viscometer to determine the flow behavior of agar solution at different temperatures and shear rates.
- Melting and gelling temperature: Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used to determine the critical temperature of the gel to understand the thermal properties of agar.
- Morphological analysis: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are utilized to analyze the surface morphology and pore structure of agar gel, delivering nanoscale high-resolution surface topology images.
Chemical Properties of Agar
- Component analysis: We use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to analyze components such as galactose.
- Molecular weight distribution: Separate agar based on size using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to determine its molecular weight distribution.
- Functional group identification: Identify specific functional groups using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), providing detailed information about the molecular structure.
- Purity and impurity determination: Determine the sulfate content of agar or the presence of trace heavy metals.
Publication
Technology: Alkali treatment, Infrared spectroscopy
Journal: Heliyon
IF: 3.4
Published: 2022
Results: The authors investigated the effects of spatial variation, alkali treatment, and extractant volume on the yield and gel strength of agar extracted from three species of Gracilaria. The results showed that G. corticata exhibited the highest yield, followed by G. salicornia, and G. edulis had the lowest yield. Changing the extraction volume showed no significant difference in mass yield. Spatial variability and the volume of distilled water used for extraction had significant effects on the gel strength of the agar. Alkali treatment increased the agar yield and gel strength of Gracilaria species. In addition, the authors analyzed the samples by infrared spectroscopy, confirming that the extracted polysaccharide was agar.
Fig.1 Percentage mass yield and gel strength of Gracilaria species. (Vuai, 2022)
Applications
- Characterization helps understand the hardness, cohesion, and adhesion of agar in cosmetic formulations to ensure product consistency of texture, stability values, and performance.
- Test the adhesion of agar to develop medical adhesives or sealant materials.
- Evaluate the interaction of agar with living cells and tissues, which is essential for developing biomedical materials such as tissue scaffolds and wound dressings.
- Reveal the microstructure, porosity, and morphology of agar through microscopy to apply them in the field of materials science.
Advantages of Us
- We use the most advanced analytical methods and tools such as NMR, and FTIR to provide highly accurate and detailed data on agar.
- Our services cover viscosity, thermal properties, mechanical strength, molecular structure, and composition analysis. Whether you are in pharmaceuticals, materials, cosmetics, or any other industry, our agar characterization applies to you.
- We take a holistic approach to agar characterization, considering how various parameters interact with each other. This comprehensive analysis helps you to have a comprehensive understanding of the performance, stability, and functionality of your product.
- We understand the sensitivity of your proprietary data. Strict confidentiality policies ensure that all your data and intellectual property are protected and handled with the utmost care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is agar characterization important?
Our characterization services include the evaluation of gel strength, melting and gelling temperatures, rheological properties, and chemical composition. Understanding its physical and chemical properties is essential to ensure the consistency, reliability, and quality of agar products, especially in the fields of microbiology and biotechnology.
What kind of samples can be processed?
Samples may include algae containing agar, raw agar, agar culture media, and formulated products containing agar, etc. Each type of sample may require different preparation steps and analytical methods to accurately characterize the desired properties.
At CD BioGlyco, our agar characterization services are used in a variety of industrial, healthcare, and academic research applications. We aim to provide comprehensive and precise analysis to ensure you gain the critical information you need to optimize your products and processes. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Reference
- Vuai, S.A. Characterization of agar extracted from Gracilaria species collected along Tanzanian coast. Heliyon. 2022, 8(2).
