Viscosities of acacia and sodium alginate after sterilization by cobalt-60

Acacia and sodium alginate powders were sterilized by cobalt-60 irradiation to a total dose of 2.5 Mrad with no increase in residual radioactivity of the gums as a result of the treatment. Viscosity measurements showed an 11% reduction in the viscosity of acacia in water and a 16% decrease in the intrinsic viscosity in barium chloride solution due to the irradiation. Viscosities of sodium alginate solutions in 0.1 N sodium chloride showed a 70% decrease in intrinsic viscosity, indicating changes in the molecular structure corresponding to degradation to 30% of the original degree of polymerization. This dose of gamma-radiation from cobalt-60 is not an appropriate method of sterilization for these gums.