DESCRIPTION

Gellan Gum occurs as an off-white powder. It is a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide gum produced by fermentation of a carbohydrate with a pure culture of Sphingomonas elodea (previously identified as Pseudomonas elodea, but later reclassified), purified by recovery with isopropyl alcohol or ethanol, dried, and milled. It is a heteropolysaccharide comprising a tetrasaccharide-repeating unit of one rhamnose, one glucuronic acid, and two glucose units. The glucuronic acid is neutralized to mixed potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium salts. It may contain acyl (glyceryl and acetyl) groups as the O-glycosidically linked esters. It is soluble in hot or cold deionized water.