Why is alginic acid a thickening agent?

Why is alginic acid a thickening agent?

Alginic acid has very low solubility in water and most organic solvents. So, how does alginic acid act as a thickener in these products if it can’t dissolve in water? By adding a cation such as sodium or potassium to alginic acid, to form sodium alginate or potassium alginate, it becomes highly soluble in water.

What is alginic acid sodium salt?

Salts and esters of ALGINIC ACID that are used as HYDROGELS; DENTAL IMPRESSION MATERIALS, and as absorbent materials for surgical dressings (BANDAGES, HYDROCOLLOID). They are also used to manufacture MICROSPHERES and NANOPARTICLES for DIAGNOSTIC REAGENT KITS and DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS.

What is the difference between alginic acid and sodium alginate?

1 Sodium alginate. “Alginate” is the term usually used for the salts of alginic acid, but it can also refer to all the derivatives of alginic acid and alginic acid itself; in some publications the term “algin” is used instead of alginate.

What is the function of alginic acid?

Alginic acid can absorb 200-300 times its weight in water and solutes at low pH yielding a high viscosity, high pH gel. This forms a physical barrier floating in the gastric acid contents, reducing acid reflux into the esophagus. It is useful for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease and indigestion.

Why is alginic acid insoluble?

Alginic acid is soluble by making a salt with monovalent cations such as Na and K. It becomes insoluble by making a salt with polyvalent cations like Ca and Fe. Alginic acid does not dissolve in water.

Is alginic acid an acid?

Alginic acid is a linear polymer consisted of L-glucuronic acid and D-mannuronic acid residues connected via 1,4-glycosidic linkages.

What is alginic acid made from?

Alginic acid is a naturally occurring hydrophilic colloidal polysaccharide obtained from the various species of brown seaweed (Phaeophyceae). It is a linear copolymer consisting mainly of residues of b -1,4-linked D-mannuronic acid and a -1,4-linked L-glucuronic acid.

Which algae produce alginic acid?

brown algae
Alginic acid, also called algin or alginate, is an anionic polysaccharide distributed widely in the cell walls of brown algae, including Laminaria and Ascophyllum species. It is formed by linear block copolymerization of d-mannuronic acid and l-guluronic acid.

Which contains alginic acid?

Alginic acid, also called algin or alginate, is an anionic polysaccharide distributed widely in the cell walls of brown algae, including Laminaria and Ascophyllum species.

Is alginic acid soluble?

Alginic acid

Is alginic acid a polysaccharide?

Alginic acid is an insoluble polysaccharide and the sodium, potassium or ammonium salts are the alginates. Alginate is a water-soluble linear polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed and is composed of alternating blocks of 1-4 linked α-L-guluronic acid (G) and β-D-mannuronic acid (M) residues (see Fig.

How do you make alginic acid?

The process of producing alginic acid, consisting in leaching freshly harvested kelp in a cold solution of dilute hydrochloric acid to remove the salts and absorbed salt solutions, milling the kelp and digesting the same in a cold solution of soda ash, milling the resultant paste and diluting.

What factors affect the viscosity of sodium alginate?

Viscosity is affected by the molecular weight of the sodium alginate polymer. Viscosity changes are dependent on the degree of polymerization of the uronic acid units, the molecules which comprise alginic acid. When the molecular weight is high, the viscosity is high even at low concentrations.

What is alginic acid?

Alginic acid, also called algin, is a naturally occurring, edible polysaccharide found in brown algae. It is hydrophilic and forms a viscous gum when hydrated. With metals such as sodium and calcium, its salts are known as alginates.

What is the chemical name for sodium alginate?

Sodium alginate (NaC 6 H 7 O 6) is the sodium salt of alginic acid. Sodium alginate is a gum. Potassium alginate (KC 6 H 7 O 6) is the potassium salt of alginic acid.

Is sodium alginate safe to use?

As sodium alginate is derived from natural seaweed, our products are safe to use and BSE-free, GMO-free and pesticide-residues-free. *Alginic acid and its salts are regarded as safe materials and they are evaluated as alginic acid in “Group ADI”.