Curdlan gum

Curdlan is a polysaccharide produced by microorganism processing, it is a linear homopolymer of D-glucose with -1,3-glucosidic linkages. Curdlan is insoluble in water, alcohol, and most organic solvents. It does, however, dissolve in alkali solutions such as sodium hydroxide and tribasic sodium phosphate. Heating an aqueous suspension of Curdlan above 80℃ forms a heat irreversible gel (high set). A second type of gel (low set), similar to agar-agar and K-carrageenan gels, is formed by heating to 60℃followed by cooling.