Properties of the polyalcohol prepared from the beta-D-glucan schizophyllan by periodate oxidation and borohydride reduction.

The structure of the title polyalcohol was confirmed by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The polyalcohol was more soluble in water than schizophyllan and the aqueous solutions were more viscous than those of schizophyllan. The viscosity slightly decreased during 1 h on heating at 121 degrees, was not influenced by high concentrations of salt, and was independent of pH in the range 3-11. However, the viscosity markedly declined on storage of an aqueous solution of the polyalcohol at pH 2 and 20 degrees for 100 h. The polyalcohol was more susceptible to hydrodynamic shear than schizophyllan and the proportion of glycerol released indicated that both the main and side chains in the polyalcohol were cleaved.