The Use of Calcium Alginate

Calcium alginate is one of the alginates, which is widely used in food industry, medicine, paper industry and so on. In food industry, because of the stability of calcium alginate, it is usually used to replace starch or gelatin as the stabilizer of ice cream, frozen milk, and other mixing drinks. In addition, the use of calcium alginate can avoid the adhesion of food and wrapping. Calcium alginate is still a thickening agent. It can be used in sauce of salad, pudding, fruit jam, canned food and so on. This property can make food look attractive. Calcium alginate can be used to make a lot of gel food, such as frozen food and synthetical copy type food. On the side, calcium alginate can be used to cover fruits, meat, and fishery product as the protective layer, warding off the direct contact with air. This will prolong reservation period. Calcium alginate still can be used to replace agar to make soft sweets. The above properties of calcium alginate are similar to the properties of food grade sodium alginate, but there is a unique property of calcium alginate. Low molecular calcium alginate used in food can become a new type calcium source. Filling calcium when eating delicious food. That is great. As one of the alginates, Calcium alginate is one kind of macromolecules polysaccharide which can be eaten but not be digested by human body. In gastrointestinal tract, it has water absorption, adsorbability, cationic exchange and gel filter effects. After low molecular change, it has stronger biological activity and significant health care function. In medicine, calcium alginate is nontoxic to cell, so it is suitable for the drug transmission. Calcium alginate sponge is another product of calcium alginate. After the complete exchange of sodium ion and calcium ion, calcium alginate sponge will form moist gel. Because of the release of calcium ion, the blood coagulation process is accelerated, thus, quickly hemostatic purpose is achieved. Additional, the gel layer, covered on wound, will protect the wound surface, protect the nerve endings from the surrounding stimulus, and relieve the pain of wound. It can maintain certain humidity, temperature, and create a good environment for wound healing, make the wound heal as soon as possible. The use of calcium alginate sponge is convenient, it has good air permeability, good biocompatibility, and the residual fibers can be degraded and absorbed by human body. It doesn't adhere wound. Furthermore, calcium alginate still can be used to make drug carrying gel microcapsule. It has a good applied prospect in pharmacy.