On the Diastase of Koji. 



oil 



except at temperature between 45° C. and 60° C. It then produces a 

 slight difference in the colour of the liquid, which becomes more red ; 

 it reduces slightly the specific rotatory power, and increases the 

 amount of glucose, owing partly to the hydration of the dextrin, and 

 partly to the precipitation of a portion of the albuminoids, especially 

 at the higher temperatures, when the liquid always becomes more or 

 less turbid. The following series of experiments (Table VIII) was 

 made by Mr. Y. Watanabe, Graduate of the University of Tokid, and 

 shows very clearly the effect of heating for one hour at the specified 

 temperatures. 



Table VIII. — Action of Heat upon the Cold-water Solution of Koji. 





Solid matter in 100 



Dextrose in 100 cub. 





cub. centims. 





centims. 







G-rms. 







G-rms. 





Tem- 











• 





perature. 



o 





a> 







a3 





oa 

 o 



Heated 



to 

 cS 

 <C 



a? 





DO 

 03 





Sh 

 M 



o 



- 



Unl 



w 



3 



30° C. .. 



4-88 







2-97 



3 015 



0-045 



35 ... 



4-88 







2-97 



3-062 



0-092 



40 ... 



4-89 







2-98 



3-079 



0-099 



f45 ... 



4-92 



4-98 



0-06 



2-92 



3 412 



0-492 



J 50 ... 



4-95 



5-02 



0-07 



2-79 



3 -285 



0-495 



] 55 ... 



4 92 



5-00 



0-08 



2-92 



3 463 



0-543 



(.60 ... 



4-95 



5-02 



0-07 



2-79 



3 30 



510 



65 ... 



4-89 







2-98 



3 -081 



101 



70 ... 



4-89 







2-98 



3-075 



0-095 



Specific rotatory 

 power. 

 P- 



74 

 70 

 74 

 7o 



70 

 67 1 

 68-9 

 67-8 



Below 45° C. the increase in the specific gravity was so small that 

 it could not be determined with any certainty, and it will be seen that 

 although there is an increase in the amount of dextrose the increase is 

 very small. Between 45° and 60° C. the increase in total solid matter 

 and in glucose, and the diminution in the specific rotatory power, are 

 more marked. From the columns showing the increase in solid matter 

 and glucose, it will be seen that the greatest change occurs at 55° C. : 

 and this is borne out by the diminution in the specific rotatory power, 

 which is greatest at that temperature. The limits of greatest change 

 are from 45° to 69° C, for either below or above these points there is 

 a sudden falling off in the increase of dextrose. 



III. — Action of Solution of Koji upon some Carbohydrates. 



(1.) Action of Koji Extract upon Cane-sugar. — Extract of koji has 

 vor.. xxxn. y 



