Sodium alginate

Sodium alginate (CAS 9005-38-3), also known as E401, is a natural polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed; a water-soluble gum.

Where is Sodium alginate used?

• Food: thickener and stabilizer in dairy products, dressings and restructured meat, and enables spherification in modernist cuisine
• Pharmaceuticals: binder and controlled-release matrix in tablet formulations
• Topical gels and wound dressings: viscosity modifier
• Textile printing: print paste thickener for reactive dye application on cotton, where consistent viscosity affects colour definition and yield
• Paper and board coatings improve surface smoothness and ink holdout.

Good to know: Viscosity grades, from low to high, determine suitability for specific processing conditions. Food-grade material meets E401 and FCC specifications; pharmaceutical-grade supply meets USP and Ph. Eur. standards.

Commercial specifications

• Viscosity grades from low to high
• Food-grade to E401 and FCC specifications
• Pharmaceutical-grade to USP and Ph. Eur. standards