Dextran

Description

A polysaccharide that contains only macromolecules of glucose units. Dextran is naturally produced from sucrose by some bacteria and occurs as slimes in fermenting vegetables and dairy products. Dextran is used in confections, lacquers and was formerly used in blood plasma.

Synonyms and Related Terms

macrose; dextrano (Esp.); destrano (It)

Other Properties

Soluble in water producing a viscous solution.

Hazards and Safety

Combustible.

Authority

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 138

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• R.D. Harley, Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835, Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982