Australia's Science Forum

Hi All

TGIF and last day before holidays

I have been asked to purchase xylitol and Erythritol both are sweeteners but I have no idea where to buy them in Australia seems to be a lot OS on the internet.

Also does anybody know where to purchase Alginate also know as Alginic acid or sodium salt.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Perhaps Xylitol & Erythriotal can be purchased at a health shop???


Can not help with Alginate sorry, try google.

Hi
Sodium alginate can be ordered through Serrata pg26 1038951 cost $21
. When making up the alginate and enzyme solutions it is
essential to use pure water; otherwise calcium ions in the water will cause the alginate to “set”prematurely.
To prepare immobilised enzymes/cells in alginate beads
¨ Make up a solution of the enzyme to be studied (see Recipe Card 23) or a suspension of yeast
cells using pure water.
¨ Dissolve 2 g of sodium alginate in 100 ml of warm, pure water using a mechanical stirrer.
Allow the solution to cool.
¨ Dissolve 3 g of calcium chloride-6-water in 200 ml of pure water in a 250 ml beaker.
¨ Mix 2 ml of the enzyme/suspension with 8 ml of the 2% sodium alginate solution.
¨ Suck this up into a 10 ml syringe.
¨ Add the sodium alginate/enzyme (or cell) mixture one drop at a time to the calcium
chloride solution making sure the tip of the syringe is held above the solution in the beaker.
¨ Allow the beads to harden for a few minutes before straining them out of the beaker.

It is 60-70% as sweet as table sugar yet it is almost non-caloric , does not affect blood sugar, does not cause tooth decay, and is absorbed by the body, therefore unlikely to cause gastric side effects unlike other sugar alcohols. It has a caloric value of 0.2 calories per gram (95% less than sugar and other carbohydrates), but some countries like Japan label it at 0 calories .
You can buy it in health food shops. I am going to bay it. God knows I need to lose
some kilos.

Hi

We did a prac with sodium alginate and calcium chloride to make 'caviar'. What is the best method of disposing of this caviar? Garden? Rubbish bin? Drain?

Thanks
Rita

As Sodium Alginate in NOT in the CSIS I can not help you, sorry.

Scoop out the "caviar" and bin it,then the solutions can go down the sink.