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The current state of knowledge in the field of synthesis and properties of polyglycerols and polyglycerol fatty acid esters is presented. Alternatives for the analytical characterization of these families by means of physico-chemical methods, with special reference to chromatography and spectroscopy, are described. Furthermore, the use of polyglycerol fatty acid esters as food additives is considered from the view-points of the physiology of nutrition and of processing technology.

Cold polymerizates "Kallocryl K" and "Palacos" were characterized by means of physico-chemical methods of examination. The residual monomer content of the polymerizates, which is of major toxicological interest, was also determined quantitatively. It was possible to show that the residual monomer content decreases exponentially as a function of the duration of polymerization. "Palacos" polymerizates had much higher residual monomer contents than "Kallocryl K" polymerizates when the same time of polymerization was used. Also discussed in this paper are possible methods of reducing the residual monomer content prior to implantation of the plastic materials.