General description

Maltose monohydrate is a sugar with one molecule of water of hydration. It is a white crystalline powder, slightly sweet to taste. Maltose monohydrate is used for the identification of microbes that can ferment it, producing acid and in some cases gas. The identification is carried out using a phenol-red broth base, which contains all the required nutrients for growth of the microorganism except the carbohydrate source which is supplemented by the sugar. If fermentation takes place the indicator (phenol red) turns yellow in color due to the acid produced and if any gas is produced it is collected in the inverted Durham tubes.

Application

Maltose monohydrate is used in microbiology to study the specific nutritional properties of various microorganisms.

Analysis Note

Identity (IR): conforms
Spec. rotation [α²0/D (10 %; water; calc. on anhydrous substance): +135.0 - +139.0 °
Heavy metals (as Pb): ≤ 0.001 %
Water: 4.0 - 7.0 %
Suitability for microbiology: conforms