What Is Alginate And The Alginate Applications?

2017-06-13 14:42:49

 

Alginate is a natural polysaccharide that comprises from 30 to 60% of brown algae(on dry weight basis). Alginate has dietary fibre properties.

Alginic acid usually accumulates in seaweeds as "jelly bodies" after combining with minerals from seawater. These gel bodies fill the seaweed cells. The litheness of seaweeds growing in the ocean is a result of the flexibility that these jelly bodies, i.e. alginates, provide structure to the seaweed.

Alginic acid was first isolated and named by a Scottish scientist, Dr. E.C.C. Stanford, in1883. Since then, Alginic acid and its derivatives have been utilized as a hydrocolloid in a variety of applications such as food additives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and textile manufacturing.

Applications:

1.Food :Alginate has an excellent functionality as a thickening agent, gelling agent, emulsifier, stabilizer, texture-improver (for noodles), to improve the quality of food. Nowadays, based on unique and excellent properties alginate is applied to numerous kinds of food, such as ice cream, jelly, lactic drinks, dressings, instant noodle, beer, et cetera .Safety of alginate for food applications is certified by FAO/WHO, as one of the safest food additives.

2.Textile Printing: Alginate is used for substrate of color paste when applying patterns to print fabrics, scarf, towel, etc. Use of alginate for printing of cotton, jute, rayon is mandatory. Alginate, a seaweed extract, is safer and easier to be decomposed compared with other substrate for textile printing, and gives easier waste water disposal.

3.Welding Rods: Alginate is used for the production of welding rod, as a binder of flux.

4.Animal Feed: Alginate is used as a binder and thickening agent for pet-food, fish feed, etc.

5.Pharmaceutical: Alginate acid is used in pharmaceutical area with several applications. Alginic acid is compounded into tablets to accelerate disintegration of tablet for faster release of medicinal component. Alginate forms gel in the high-acidic stomach and protect stomach mucosa.

6.Alginate is used in cosmetics area with several applications with its functionality of thickener and moisture retainer. Alginate helps retaining the color of lipstick on lip surface by forming gel-network.