Agar - Kremer

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Dr. Georg Kremer, Dipl.-Chemiker, Farbmhle, D-88317 Aichstetten/Allgu, Telefon +49-7565-914480, Telefax +49-7565-1606
kremer-pigmente@t-online.de, www.kremer-pigmente.com
63470 Agar-Agar
Prepared at the 49th JECFA (1997)
superseding specifications prepared at the 44th JECFA (1995), published in FNP 52 Addendum 3 (1995)
SYNONYMS Agar-agar; gelose; Japan agar; Bengal, Ceylon, Chinese or Japanese isinglass; Layor Carang;
INS No. 406
DEFINITION Agar is the dried hydrophilic, colloidal substance extracted from certain marine algae of the
class Rhodophyceae. It is a polysaccharide, consisting primarily of D- and L-galactose units.
About every tenth D-galactopyranose unit contains a sulfate ester group. Calcium,
magnesium, potassium or sodium cations are also associated with the polysaccharide.
C.A.S. number 9002-18-0
Assay Not higher than 0.25% for threshold gel concentration
DESCRIPTION Agar is odourless or has a slight characteristic odour. Unground agar usually occurs in
bundles consisting of thin, membranous, agglutinated strips, or in cut, flaked, granulated or
powdered forms. It may be light yellowish orange, yellowish grey to pale yellow, or
colourless. It is tough when damp, brittle when dry. Powdered agar is white to yellowish
white or pale yellow.
FUNCTIONAL USES Thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier
CHARACTERISTICS
IDENTIFICATION
Solubility Insoluble in cold water; soluble in boiling water
Gel formation with water
Passes test
See description under TESTS
Precipitate formation with ammonium sulfate solution
Passes test
Precipitate formation with lead acetate solution
Passes test
Microscopy Passes test
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PURITY
Water absorption Passes test
Loss on drying Not more than 22% after drying at 105 until the difference between two weighings is less
than 1 mg (about 5h). Unground agar should be cut into pieces from 2 to 5 mm
2
before
drying.
Total ash Not more than 6.5% on the dried basis
Acid-insoluble ash Not more than 0.5% on the dried basis
Foreign insoluble matter Not more than 1% See description under TESTS
Arsenic Not more than 3 mg/kg (Method II)
Lead Not more than 5 mg/kg Prepare a sample solution as directed for organic compounds in the
Limit Test, using 5 g of lead ion (Pb) in the control
Starch and dextrins Not detectable
Gelatin and other proteins
Not detectable
Microbiological criteria Total plate count: Not more than 5,000 colonies per gram.
Initially prepare a 10
-1
dilution by adding a 50 g sample to 450 ml of Butterfield's phosphate
buffered dilution water and homogenizing in a high speed blender.
Yeasts and moulds: Not more than 500 colonies per gram
Coliforms: Negative by test
Salmonella: Negative by test
TESTS
IDENTIFICATION
TESTS
Gel formation with water
Prepare a 1.0% solution of the sample in boiling water in a flask and place the flask in water
at 30 for 15 min. A firm, resistant gel is formed. Place the flask in water at 70 for 1 h, the
gel is not molten. When heating the flask at higher temperature than 95, gel is liquefied to
form a clear solution.
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Precipitate formation with ammonium sulfate solution
A warm (40) 0.5% solution of the sample gives a precipitate with half its volume of a warm
(40) 40% ammonium sulfate solution. This test distinguishes agar from alginates, gum
arabic, gum ghatti, karaya gum, pectin and tragacanth.
Precipitate formation with lead acetate solution
A warm 0.5% solution of the sample gives a precipitate with one fifth its volume of basic
lead acetate TS. This test distinguishes agar from methyl cellulose.
Microscopy Place a few fragments of unground agar or some powder on a slide and add some drops of
water or chloral hydrate TS. When examined under a microscope, agar in water appears
granular and somewhat filamentous. In chloral hydrate TS, the powdered agar appears more
transparent than in water.
PURITY TESTS
Water absorption Place 5 g of the sample in a 100-ml graduated cylinder, fill to the mark with water, mix, and
allow to stand at 25 for 24 h. Pour the contents of the cylinder through moistened glass
wool, allowing the water to drain into a second 100-ml graduated cylinder. Not more than 75
ml of water should be obtained.
Foreign insoluble matter Boil 5 g of the sample with 500 ml of water and 12 ml of sulfuric acid under a reflux
condenser for 2 h. Allow to cool and filter through a tared, fine, sintered glass crucible. Wash
flask and filter with 50 ml of water, dry at 105 to constant weight and weigh. Calculate as
percentage.
Starch and dextrins To a warm (40) 0.5% solution of the sample, add 2 drops of iodine TS. Where the drops fall,
a red-violet colour appears. After mixing, the solution should be golden brown and not blue
or reddish.
Gelatin and other proteins
To a warm (40) 0.5% solution of the sample add 1 volume of warm (40) picric acid TS. No
turbidity should appear within 10 min.
METHOD OF ASSAY Threshold gel concentration: Prepare serial dilutions of the sample with known solids content
(0.15%, 0.20%, 0.25%, etc.) and place in tubes, 150 mm long by 16 mm internal diameter,
stoppered at both ends. Cool for 1 h at 20-25. Allow cylinders of gel to slide from the tubes
to a level surface. The lowest concentration of gel that resists gravity without rupture for 5-30
sec is the threshold concentration of the sample.

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