Calcium alginate

Calcium alginate (CAS 9005-35-0), also sold under names such as Calginate and approved as E404, is a natural polysaccharide salt derived from brown seaweed. It functions as a gelling, thickening, and stabilizing agent across food, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications.

In food manufacturing, it is used to structure reformed meat and seafood products, control moisture release, and stabilize emulsions in dressings and dairy systems. Pharmaceutical formulators incorporate it into wound dressings and controlled-release tablet matrices.

Its gel-forming behavior regulates active ingredient delivery in medical applications. In biotechnology, calcium alginate beads serve as an encapsulation medium for live cells, enzymes, and probiotics in fermentation and bioprocessing workflows.

Textile and paper processors apply it as a thickener for print pastes and surface sizing agents. Precise viscosity control directly affects print definition and coating uniformity in these industrial manufacturing environments.

Calcium alginate is supplied as a white to cream-colored powder in varying particle sizes to suit dissolution requirements. Food-grade material is available to FCC and E404 specifications for global distribution.

Pharmaceutical-grade product meets USP and Ph. Eur. standards for use in regulated healthcare markets. Technical-grade powder is also offered for industrial textile and paper applications where food or pharma compliance is not required.