Rhamsan gum produced by Alcaligenes was rheologically characterized, and compared to that of xanthan gum. The rheological properties were derermined from the change in the value of intrinsic viscosity with pH and salt concentration. at the range of pH 2~11 and salt concentration of 0~1.0 M KCl, the intrinsic viscosties of rhanisan gum were in the range of 8.2 to 36.2 dl/g and those of xanthan gum 8.19 to 44 dl/g. In the absence of salt, the intrinsic viscosity of rhamsan gum and Xanthan gum increased as the pH of solution increased up to neutral pH, and then decreased at alkaline pH. The intrinisc viscosities of rhamsan and anthan gum were not affec6ted by the increment of salt concentration. the chain stiffness paramenter for the rhamsan gum was 0.016. The overlap paramoeters of rhamsan and xanthan gum were 0.025 and 0.022 g/dl, respectively. rhamsan and xanthan gum were shear rate dependent or pseudoplastic. The yield stress of rhamsan gum increased slightly, but the shear index decreased as the concentration increased. The apparent viscosityes of rhamsan and xanthan gum decreased as the temperature increased. The salt effect of divalent cations (calcium, magnesium) was lower than monovalent cations (sodium, potassium).