PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ACID BIOPOLYMER (BIOABSORBENT) FROM ALCALIGENES LATUS B-16

Alcaligenes latus B-16 produces two extracellular biopolymers. One is a high molecular weight (5 x 10(9)) acid-polysaccharide which contains uronic acid and is a bioabsorbent. It also has other interesting char acteristics. For example, its rheological analysis revealed that it ps eudoplastic and has a higher apparent viscosity than xanthan gum at mo re than twice the concentration. Its apparent viscosity is constant in the temperature range of 5 degrees C to 80 degrees C, and it is stabl e during storage. Moreover, it showed the excellent advantage of good water retention capacity for paper making and super water retention ca pacity through sand even at 70 degrees C.