Occurrence of Xylans in Marine Algæ

Abstract

WHEN the red alga, Rhodymenia palmata, commonly known as ‘dilisk’ or ‘dulse’, was immersed in dilute hydrochloric acid for about twenty-four hours, a viscid solution was obtained and, when this solution was poured into alcohol, a white solid was precipitated from it. This substance swelled up and dissolved when put into water. After purification by three precipitations with alcohol, the opalescent solution was cleared by repeated filtration. The substance now had a specific rotation of about –87. On hydrolysis with dilute nitric acid, it yielded crystalline xylose.