Abstract: A method for modification of alginates or other uronic acid containing compounds to give improved physical properties, wherein the alginates in solid form are treated with CO.sub.2 under supercritical conditions thereby achieving at least partial epimerization of said uronic acid containing compound. The critical point of CO.sub.2 is pcrit=73.83 bar and tcrit=31.degree. C.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 16, 1988
Date of Patent:
February 5, 1991
Assignee:
Protan S/A
Inventors:
Gudmund Skjak-Braek, Trygve Eklund, Kurt O. Von Husby, Bjarne J. Kvam, Olav Smidsrod