O-CARBOXYMETHYLAGAR - INTERACTION WITH DIVALENT-CATIONS

O-Carboxymethylagar was produced from a commercial, low methoxylated a gar sample. The degree of substitution of the sample was 1.2 carboxyme thyl groups per disaccharide repeating unit. The procedure used for th e synthesis lowered the polymer molecular weight slightly. Carboxymeth ylagar exhibited different binding behaviour with different divalent c ations. Interaction with ions was monitored by polarography, circular dichroism, and isothermal microcalorimetry. The polycarboxylate intera cted strongly with lead ions, and showed lower affinity for copper ion s. Little interaction was detected with respect to other divalent cati ons.