Ammonium alginate

Ammonium alginate (CAS 9005-34-9), approved as E403 in food applications, is a water-soluble salt of alginic acid derived from brown seaweed. It functions as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier across food and industrial processes.

In food production, E403 thickens and stabilizes dairy desserts, ice cream, and salad dressings while improving texture consistency at low use levels. This versatile additive ensures product stability during storage.

Textile printers rely on ammonium alginate as a print paste thickener for reactive dye application on cotton. It delivers sharp definition and clean washout after fixation, making it essential for high-quality fabric printing.

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, it acts as a binder and disintegrant in tablet formulations and supports controlled-release matrix systems. It provides the necessary structural integrity for various medicinal delivery formats.

Personal care formulators incorporate it into gels, lotions, and masks to build viscosity and stabilize emulsions. Its natural origin makes it a preferred choice for modern cosmetic and topical skin care applications.

Ammonium alginate is supplied as a cream to off-white powder in varying particle size grades. Food-grade material conforming to FCC and E403 specifications is the most commonly traded form for global distribution.

Pharmaceutical-grade material is also available to USP and BP standards for specialized medical uses. These high-purity grades ensure compliance with strict international regulatory requirements for safety.

Viscosity grades including low, medium, and high are standard commercial distinctions. These variations determine the specific suitability for textile, food, or pharmaceutical end uses based on the required thickness.