GELRITE®, 500 g

GELRITE^® is a highly-purified, natural heteropolysaccharide which forms stable, agar-like gels when exposed to soluble salts. Compared to agar however, only about half the amount is required.

GELRITE^® has been specially developed as a gelling agent for microbiological culture media. It can however, replace agar in other applications, too.

Polymerisation of GELRITE^® is enhanced in the presence of (bivalent) kations. It is therefore supplemented by MgCl₂ if a solid gel structure is required. Elevated salt concentrations increase gelling temperature (e.g. 500 mM Na⁺ to approx. 68 °C with 1 % GELRITE^®). When using very high salt concentrations like e.g. seawater, gelling capacity may be significantly reduced.

Chemical composition:
Linear polysaccharide comprising of O-acetylate glycuronic acid, glucose and rhamnose units.