DEFINITION

Galageenan is the hydrocolloid obtained by extraction with water or aqueous alkali from the red seaweed class Rhodophyceae species Eucheuma gelatinae. Galageenan consists chiefly of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and ammonium sulfate esters of galactose and 3,6-anhydrogalactose copolymers. These hexoses are alternately linked as α-1,3 and β-1,4 in the polymer. The ester sulfate content ranges from 8%–18%. In addition, it contains inorganic salts that originate from the seaweed and from the process of recovery from the extract.