Carrageenan
Carrageenan
[9000-07-1].
(kar'' a gee' nan).
Carrageenan
[9000-07-1].DEFINITION
Carrageenan is the hydrocolloid obtained by extraction with water or aqueous alkali, from some members of the class Rhodophyceae (red seaweeds). Carrageenan consists chiefly of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and ammonium sulfate esters of galactose and 3,6-anhydrogalactose copolymers. These hexoses are alternately linked 
-1,3 and 
-1,4 in the polymer. The prevalent copolymers in the hydrocolloid are designated kappa-, iota-, and lambda-carrageenan. kappa-Carrageenan is mostly the alternating polymer of d-galactose-4-sulfate and 3,6-anhydro-d-galactose. iota-Carrageenan is similar, except that the 3,6-anhydrogalactose is sulfated at carbon 2. Between kappa-carrageenan and iota-carrageenan there is a continuum of intermediate compositions differing in degree of sulfation at carbon 2. In lambda-carrageenan, the alternating monomeric units are mostly d-galactose-2-sulfate (1,3-linked) and d-galactose-2,6-disulfate (1,4-linked). The ester sulfate content for Carrageenan ranges from 18% to 40%. In addition, it contains inorganic salts that originate from the seaweed and from the process of recovery from the extract.
-1,3 and -1,4 in the polymer. The prevalent copolymers in the hydrocolloid are designated kappa-, iota-, and lambda-carrageenan. kappa-Carrageenan is mostly the alternating polymer of d-galactose-4-sulfate and 3,6-anhydro-d-galactose. iota-Carrageenan is similar, except that the 3,6-anhydrogalactose is sulfated at carbon 2. Between kappa-carrageenan and iota-carrageenan there is a continuum of intermediate compositions differing in degree of sulfation at carbon 2. In lambda-carrageenan, the alternating monomeric units are mostly d-galactose-2-sulfate (1,3-linked) and d-galactose-2,6-disulfate (1,4-linked). The ester sulfate content for Carrageenan ranges from 18% to 40%. In addition, it contains inorganic salts that originate from the seaweed and from the process of recovery from the extract.Carrageenan is recovered by alcohol precipitation, by drum drying, or by freezing. The alcohols used during recovery and purification are restricted to methanol, alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol. Carrageenan that is recovered by drum-roll drying may contain mono- and di-glycerides or up to 5% of polysorbate 80 used as roll-stripping agents.
IDENTIFICATION
• A.
Sample solution:
A 20-mg/mL solution prepared by heating a uniform dispersion in a hot water bath to 80
Analysis:
Cool the the Sample solution.
Acceptance criteria:
The Sample solution becomes more viscous upon cooling and may form a gel.
• B.
Sample solution:
Prepare as directed for the Sample solution in Identification test A.
Analysis:
To 10 mL of the Sample solution, while still hot, add 4 drops of a 0.1-g/mL solution of potassium chloride, mix, and cool.
Acceptance criteria:
A short-textured (“brittle”) gel indicates a carrageenan of a predominantly kappa type; a compliant (“elastic”) gel indicates a predominantly iota type. If the solution does not gel, the carrageenan is of a predominantly lambda type.
• C.
Analysis:
Dilute a portion of the Sample solution, prepared as directed in Identification test A, with 4 parts of water, and add 2–3 drops of methylene blue TS.
Acceptance criteria:
A blue, stringy precipitate is formed (also positive for furcellaran, a similar colloid).
• D. Infrared Absorption
Sample 1:
Disperse 2 g in 200 mL of a 25-mg/mL solution of potassium chloride, and stir for 1 h. Allow to stand for 18 h, stir again for 1 h, and transfer to a centrifuge tube. (If the transfer cannot be made because the dispersion is too viscous, dilute with up to 200 mL of the potassium chloride solution.) Centrifuge at approximately 1000 × g for 15 min.
Remove the clear supernatant, resuspend the residue in 200 mL of a 25-mg/mL solution of potassium chloride, and centrifuge again. Coagulate the combined supernatants by adding 2 volumes of dilute alcohol (9 in 10). (Retain the sediment for use in preparing Sample 2.) Recover the coagulum, and wash with 250 mL of the dilute alcohol. Press the excess liquid from the coagulum, and dry it at 60 for 2 h. The material so obtained is the nongelling fraction (lambda carrageenan).
for 2 h. The material so obtained is the nongelling fraction (lambda carrageenan).
Sample 2:
Disperse the sediment retained from the preparation of Sample 1 in 250 mL of cold water, heat at 90 for 10 min, and cool to 60. Coagulate the mixture, then recover, wash, and dry the coagulum as described above. The material so obtained is the gelling fraction (kappa- and iota-carrageenan).
for 10 min, and cool to 60. Coagulate the mixture, then recover, wash, and dry the coagulum as described above. The material so obtained is the gelling fraction (kappa- and iota-carrageenan).
Analysis:
Prepare a 2-mg/mL solution of each Sample, cast films 5 µm thick (when dry) on a suitable nonsticking surface, and obtain the IR absorption spectrum of each film.
Acceptance criteria:
Carrageenan has strong, broad absorption bands, typical of all polysaccharides, in the 1000 to 1100 cm
1 region. Absorption maxima are 1065 cm1 and 1020 cm1 for gelling and nongelling types, respectively. Other characteristic absorption bands and their intensities relative to the absorbance at 1050 cm1 are as shown in Table 1.
1 region. Absorption maxima are 1065 cm1 and 1020 cm1 for gelling and nongelling types, respectively. Other characteristic absorption bands and their intensities relative to the absorbance at 1050 cm1 are as shown in Table 1.
Table 1
| Wave Number (cm 1) |
Molecular Assignment |
Absorbance Relative to 1050 cm 1 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kappa | iota | lambda | ||
| 1220–1260 | Ester sulfate | 0.7–1.2 | 1.2–1.6 | 1.4–2.0 |
| 928–933 | 3,6-Anhydro galactose |
0.3–0.6 | 0.2–0.4 | 0–0.2 |
| 840–850 | Galactose-4-sulfate | 0.3–0.5 | 0.2–0.4 | — |
| 825–830 | Galactose-2-sulfate | — | — | 0.2–0.4 |
| 810–820 | Galactose-6-sulfate | — | — | 0.1–0.3 |
| 800–805 | 3,6-Anhydro galactose-2-sulfate |
0–0.2 | 0.2–0.4 | — |
IMPURITIES
• Heavy Metals, Method II 
231
:
NMT 40 ppm
231:
NMT 40 ppm
• Arsenic 211:
NMT 3 ppm
211:
NMT 3 ppm
• Lead 251:
NMT 10 ppm
251:
NMT 10 ppm
SPECIFIC TESTS
• Microbial Enumeration Tests 61 and Tests for Specified Microorganisms 62:
The total bacterial count does not exceed 200 cfu/g, and the tests for Salmonella species and Escherichia coli are negative.
61 and Tests for Specified Microorganisms 62:
The total bacterial count does not exceed 200 cfu/g, and the tests for Salmonella species and Escherichia coli are negative.
• Loss on Drying 731:
Dry a sample at a pressure not exceeding 10 mm of mercury at 70 for 18 h, cool in a desiccator, and weigh: it loses NMT 12.5% of its weight.
731:
Dry a sample at a pressure not exceeding 10 mm of mercury at 70 for 18 h, cool in a desiccator, and weigh: it loses NMT 12.5% of its weight.
• Solubility in Water:
NMT 30 mL of water is required to dissolve 1 g at a temperature of 80.
.
• Acid-Insoluble Matter
Sample:
2 g
Analysis:
Transfer the Sample to a 250-mL beaker containing 150 mL of water and 1.5 mL of sulfuric acid. Cover with a watch glass, and heat on a steam bath for 6 h, rubbing down the wall of the beaker frequently with a rubber-tipped stirring rod, and replacing any water lost by evaporation. Transfer 500 mg of a suitable filter aid to the beaker, and filter through a tared filtering crucible provided with a 2.4-cm glass fiber filter. Wash the residue several times with hot water, dry at 105 for 3 h, cool in a desiccator, and weigh. The difference between the total weight and the sum of the weights of the filter aid, crucible, and glass fiber filter is the weight of the acid-insoluble matter.
for 3 h, cool in a desiccator, and weigh. The difference between the total weight and the sum of the weights of the filter aid, crucible, and glass fiber filter is the weight of the acid-insoluble matter.
Acceptance criteria:
NMT 2.0% of the weight of Carrageenan taken
• Viscosity 911
911
Sample:
7.5 g
Analysis:
Transfer the Sample to a tared, tall-form, 600-mL beaker, add 450 mL of water, and disperse with agitation for 15 min. Add water to bring the weight to 500 g, and heat in a water bath, with continuous agitation, until a temperature of 80 is reached. Add water to adjust for loss by evaporation, cool to between 76 and 77, and place in a constant-temperature bath maintained at 75. Provide a suitable rotational viscometer with a spindle 1.88 cm in diameter and 6.51 cm high, using an immersion depth of 8.10 cm (No. 1 spindle). Allow the spindle to rotate in the solution at 30 rpm for 6 revolutions, then observe the scale reading. Convert the scale reading to centipoises by multiplying by the constant for the spindle and speed used.
is reached. Add water to adjust for loss by evaporation, cool to between 76 and 77, and place in a constant-temperature bath maintained at 75. Provide a suitable rotational viscometer with a spindle 1.88 cm in diameter and 6.51 cm high, using an immersion depth of 8.10 cm (No. 1 spindle). Allow the spindle to rotate in the solution at 30 rpm for 6 revolutions, then observe the scale reading. Convert the scale reading to centipoises by multiplying by the constant for the spindle and speed used.
Acceptance criteria:
At 75 is NLT 5 centipoises
is NLT 5 centipoises
• Articles of Botanical Origin, Total Ash 561:
NMT 35.0%
561:
NMT 35.0%
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Packaging and Storage:
Preserve in tight containers, preferably in a cool place.
Auxiliary Information—
Please check for your question in the FAQs before contacting USP.
| Topic/Question | Contact | Expert Committee |
|---|---|---|
| Monograph | Robert H. Lafaver, M.S.
Scientific Liaison 1-301-816-8335 |
(EXC2010) Monographs - Excipients |
| 61 |
Radhakrishna S Tirumalai, Ph.D.
Principal Scientific Liaison 1-301-816-8339 |
(GCM2010) General Chapters - Microbiology |
| 62 |
Radhakrishna S Tirumalai, Ph.D.
Principal Scientific Liaison 1-301-816-8339 |
(GCM2010) General Chapters - Microbiology |
USP35–NF30 Page 1743