Polysaccharide, and water absorbent, moisture absorbent or humectant and thickening agent chiefly made of the polysaccharide

摘要

A polysaccharide (Biopolymer B-16) being produced by cultivating Alcaligenes latus strain B-16 (FERM-2015) and having at least one function selected from water absorption, moisture absorption, humectant capability, thickening capability, suspension stability, emulsion stability and dispersant capability along with high biodegradability and which can be used without creating any environmental hazard such as secondary pollution, said Biopolymer B-16 consisting essentially of rhamnose, fucose, glucose, mannose and glucuronic acid which are present in a molar ratio of (1-10):(2-10):(4-20):(1):(1-5).