Controlled acid hydrolysis of colominic acid under microwave irradiation

The hydrolysis of colominic acid under microwave irradiation was studied an d compared with traditional heating methods. The microwave irradiation has several advantages over the heating method in the hydrolysis of colominic a cid: (a) products with higher degrees of polymerization are obtained, (b) l ess lactone byproducts are observed, and (c) the hydrolytic rate is much fa ster. These advantages are probably due to the microwave effect, Oligosiali c acids as the products of the acid hydrolysis of polysialic acid with conv entional heating methods were fully lactonized, especially under the condit ions of higher temperature and stronger acid. (C) 1999 Academic Press.