DESCRIPTION

Alginic Acid occurs as a white to yellow-white, fibrous powder. It is a hydrophilic colloidal carbohydrate extracted from various species of brown seaweeds (phaeophyceae) with dilute alkali. It may be described chemically as a linear glycuronoglycan consisting mainly of β-1,4 linked d-mannuronic and l-guluronic acid units in the pyranose ring form. Alginic Acid is insoluble in water, readily soluble in alkaline solutions, and insoluble in organic solvents. The pH of a 3:100 suspension in water is between 2.0 and 3.4.