Abstract
Reviewing the chemical literature, the writers have been led to the conclusion that Rhodophceae contain the two varieties of colloidal matter, that is, sol-gel transformation is reversible according to the temperature (I) and not reversible (II) as follows:
R<O•SO2•O O•SO2•O>Me (I) R<O•SO2•O O•SO2•O>R' (II)
As (I) and (II) are closely related in their chemical formulae, an attempt has been made for substituting one of succharide radicals (R' and R) of (II) with Ca to obtain (I) from Gracilaria confervoides.
In this report, firstly general discussion of the probability taking place the reaction above mentioned, secondarily some experiments on the treatment of Gracilaria confervoides with alkaline solution and that containing Ca++ are described.
The alkali treated Gr. confervoides contains ca. 50% of agar substance and that treated with alkaline solution ontaining Ca++ shows the ca. 60% content of agar. Both may be used effectively as raw??aterial for making pure agar-agar.