Storage Temp: Room Temperature

Carrageenan is produced from a family of red seaweeds, Rhodophyceae, of many different genera such as Chondrus, Eucheuma, Gigartina, and Iridaea. These different genera produce different types of carrageenans such as kappa, lambda, and iota. Product No. C257 is Gelcarin GP 812 ® which is a registered trademark of FMC BioPolymer. It is a kappa-type carrageenan that forms a strong, rigid gel in the presence of potassium ions often under the process called potassium precipitation.2 When carrageenan is dissolved properly, it will produce a rigid gel. Carrageenan is typically used at a wide range of concentrations from 6 g/L to 10 g/L. It is suspended in a medium that is at room temperature or colder like agar. Carrageenan should be added last since the medium will become viscous, as carrageenan is a water-soluble polymer; the viscosity of carrageenan increases with concentration and decreases with temperature. Moreover, carrageenan should also be added slowly to an agitated medium to help prevent clumping of the carrageenan and to create a uniform suspension. A lumpy suspension of carrageenan will not dissolve uniformly when autoclaved. Next, the pH of the medium should be adjusted. After autoclaving, stir the medium to distribute the melted carrageenan uniformly into the solution. PhytoTechnology Laboratories ® also carries high clarity carrageenan, Product No. C2000. Please Note: While PhytoTechnology Laboratories ™ tests each lot of this product with two or more plant cell / tissu