Agar

Agar is a white to off-white, odorless, hygroscopic powder or brittle ribbon-like solid derived from polysaccharides extracted from red algae. It is a natural hydrocolloid composed primarily of agarose and agaropectin, classified as a linear galactan polymer and a food-grade biopolymer. Agar is thermally reversible—melting near 85–95 °C and gelling upon cooling to 32–40 °C—and exhibits low volatility and high water-binding capacity. It serves primarily as a gelling, thickening, and stabilizing agent in food, pharmaceutical, and microbiological applications, including culture media for bacterial isolation and enumeration, tablet binders and disintegrants, and encapsulation matrices. Its principal application areas are food manufacturing, clinical diagnostics, life sciences research, and pharmaceutical formulation.

Substitute for gelatin, isinglass, etc. in making emulsions including photographic, gels in cosmetics, and as thickening agent in foods especially. confectionaries and dairy products; in meat canning; in production of medicinal encapsulations and ointments; as dental impression mold base; as corrosion inhibitor; sizing for silks and paper; in the dyeing and printing of fabrics and textiles; in adhesives. In nutrient media for bacterial cultures.
Agar is produced by some red algae species (Rhodophyceae), especially Gelidium and Gracilaria. Agar contains two polysaccharides - agarose (agaran) and agaropectin. Agarose consists mainly of D-galactose and the 3,6-anhydro form of L-galactose, with small amounts of D-xylose. Some of the D-galactose units are methylated at C-6. The polymer contains alternatingsegments of α(1~3) linked D-galactose units and β (1~4) linked 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose. The main chains of agaropectin are similar, but contain D-glucuronic acid and small amounts of other sugars, including sulphate esters. Agar is not attacked by microorganisms and its strong gel-forming properties make it an ideal matrix for microbial cultures.

This chemical is included in Fine Chemicals - Food Additives. See more about what is Agar and Agar SDS information.

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