Alginate is a kind of natural polysaccharide consisted in brown seaweed, as a natural product generated from alginic acid indwell in seaweed and minerals indwell in sea. Alginic acid is a mix-polysaccharide composed of D-mannuronic acid(M) L-guluronic acid(G). The main alginate series include sodium alginate, potassium alginate, calcium alginate, ammonium alginate etc.

Solution properties

As the hydrophilic gel, sodium alginate is the prevailing salt of align, which is apt to form thick solutions. With the properties of thickness and stability, sodium alginate can be used as thickener and stabilizer in foodstuff and printing paste, oil-extraction agent etc.

Gelling characteristic

When meeting with calcium ion exchange action takes place rapidly to form gel, and the gel is anti-reversibility. The high G alginate gel is crispness but much rigider, while the high M alginate gel has the opposite property, flexibler with the less rigidity. Different strengths of gel made by different proportions. With different gel, alginate can be used for difference of imitated food, medical materials, face masks, water treatment agents, clingfilm etcs.