DESCRIPTION

Pullulan occurs as a white to off-white odorless powder. It is a neutral simple polysaccharide produced by the fermentation of hydrolyzed starch using Aureobasidium pullulans. After completion of the fermentation, the fungal cells are removed by microfiltration, the filtrate is heat-sterilized, and pigments and other impurities are removed by adsorption and ion exchange chromatography. It is a linear glucan consisting predominately of α-(1→6)-linked maltotriose subunits. It may also contain some maltotetraose subunits. It is freely soluble in water, and practically insoluble in dehydrated alcohol.