Abstract: β-glucan was extracted from oat bran. The preparation prodnced 80%β-glucan and some protein. Gel filtrationchromatography suggested thatβ-glucans extracted in different extraction conditions had different molecular weight distributionsand some protein might be bonded toβ-glucans. β-glucans extracted at higher temperature (65℃and 95℃) had very high averagemolecular weights, about 2.4×106, and their molecular weight distributions were rather limited β-glucan extracted at lowertemperature (40℃) had relatively low average molecular weights, about 3.4×105, its molecular weight distributions wereextensive. In addition, the results also showedβ-glucan molecules could not be hydrolyzed in alkalescent condition.

Key words: oat bran, β-glucans, extraction, molecular weight distribution