Agar is a polysaccharide complex extracted by bleaching and hot water treatment of agarocytes from the red alga Rhodophyceae, and usually consisting of the genera Gelidium, Acanthopeltis, Ceramium, Pterocladia and Gracilaria. The algae are typically found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and in the Sea of Japan. It is primarily composed of two different units: Agarose and Agaropectin; Agarose is a neutral gelling component which is composed of a linear polymer of alternating D-galactose and 3,6-anhydrogalactose units. Agaropectin is a non-gelling component which consists of D-1,3-glycosidically linked D-galactose units, some of which are sulfated at the 6th position.
Agar is specially purified for use in preparing solid culture media for microbiological and bacteriological applications.
Grade: Bacteriological Grade
Key Applications: Culture Media
Product Type: Culture Media
Biochemical Category: Culture Media
Presentation: Off-white Powder
pH: 7.0 to 7.6 (1.5% aqueous solution) (Lit.)
Foreign activity: Foreign Organic Matter ≤1.0%
Foreign Insoluble Matter: ≤1.0%
Loss on Drying: ≤20%
NOTES: Total Ash ≤6.5% (dry weight basis); Acid Insoluble Ash ≤0.5%; Foreign Organic Matter ≤1.0%; Foreign Insoluble Matter ≤1.0%
Solubility: Agar is strongly hydrophilic and can slowly absorb about 20 times its weight of cold water, swelling in the process. Hot water is usually necessary to solubilize agar. Insoluble in alcohols.
Storage & Handling: Room Temperature