DESCRIPTION

Xanthan Gum occurs as a cream-colored powder. It is a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide gum produced by a pure culture fermentation of a carbohydrate with Xanthomonas campestris, purified by recovery with isopropyl alcohol or ethanol, dried, and milled. It contains d-glucose and d-mannose as the dominant hexose units, along with d-glucuronic acid and pyruvic acid, and it is prepared as the sodium, potassium, or calcium salt. The pyruvic acid content of this ingredient is variable depending on the fermentation process used, and in the case of “reduced-pyruvate” materials may be less than 1.5%. It is readily soluble in hot or cold water, but it is insoluble in alcohol. Its solutions are neutral.