George R. Sanderson

Alginates and Gellan Gum: Complementary Gelling Agents

Alginates and gellan gum both have a high affinity for calcium ions. Their ability to form gels with these ions is not only well known but is also exploited in many applications. Alginate gels are usually formed in the cold, without recourse to heating, while gellan gum gels are normally prepared by heating and cooling. These two polymers can thus be considered to be complementary rather than competitive gelling agents.