If you are seeing this message, you may be experiencing temporary network problems. Please wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If the problem persists, you may wish to report it to your local Network Manager.

It is also possible that your web browser is not configured or not able to display style sheets. In this case, although the visual presentation will be degraded, the site should continue to be functional. We recommend using the latest version of Microsoft or Mozilla web browser to help minimise these problems.

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology

Polysaccharides

Standard Article

Marguerite Rinaudo¹

¹Centre de recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales-CNRS

DOI: 10.1002/0471238961.polyrina.a01
Article Online Posting Date: December 2, 2005

Abstract | Full Text: PDF (402K)

Browse this title

Search this title

Abstract

This article is a short review on polysaccharides based on their recognized applications. The main techniques for polysaccharides characterization are discussed. Cellulose and starch are examined as well as their main derivatives. It is shown how the three-dimensional (3D) structure influences the distribution of the substituents and the physical properties. Hemicelluloses, pectins, galactomannans, and glucomannans are briefly described. The main source of each of these polymers is presented.

Chitin and chitosan are described before introducing the microbial polysaccharides. Bacterial polysaccharides are now developed widely due to the great number of new structures available. The main characteristics of these stereoregular polysaccharides are given.

Keywords: polysaccharides; plants polysaccharides; animal polysaccharides; microbial polysaccharides; seaweed polysaccharides; characterization of polysaccharides; cellulose; starch; cellulose derivatives; starch derivatives; chitin; chitosan; xanthan; gellan; succinoglycan; hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan); pectin; galactomannan; glucomannan; hemicellulose; alginate; agarose; carrageenan; fucan