The influence of pH on the scleroglucan and scleroglucan/borax systems
The effects that an increase of environmental pH has on the triple helix of scleroglucan (Sclg)
and on the Sclg/borax hydrogel are reported. Rheological experiments show that the hydrogel is less
sensitive to pH increase than Sclg alone, while at pH = 14 a dramatic viscosity decrease takes place for
both systems. This effect is evidenced also by the reduced water uptake and anisotropic elongation
detected, at pH = 14, by the swelling behaviour of tablets prepared with the Sclg/borax system.