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Abstract

The present invention provides a polymer comprising a polysaccharide having excellent water absorption properties, moisture absorption properties, moisture retention properties and thickening properties. Said polysaccharide has the following properties: (A) the principal constituents of the sugar composition are rhamnose, fucose, glucose and glucuronic acid which are present in a molar ratio of (1-4):2:(1-8):(1-4); (B) elemental analysis (wt %): C: 36 .+-.3 H: 7 .+-.1 O: 56 .+-.4, containing 9-13% of crystalline water (C) solubility: slightly soluble in water; soluble in alkalies; insoluble in methanol, ethanol and acetone; (D) UV absorption spectrum: no absorption detected at 280 nm characteristic of proteins (peptides) or at 260 nm characteristic of nucleic acids; and (E) IR absorption spectrum: an absorption pattern characteristic of polysaccharides is observed near 800-1200.sup.-i Said polysaccharide is produced by a fermentation method using a natural medium or a synthetic medium of Alcaligenes microorganism.

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First Claim