Are alginic acid and sodium alginate used the same? What is the difference?

　　Sodium alginate is the sodium salt of alginic acid, which is a chemical substance. It is generally used for thickening/anti-sedimentation/molding of food/beverage/beer, etc., and textile printing and dyeing is used for thickening with reactive dyes. Today, Nanshan Biotechnology, a sodium alginate manufacturer, gives you a detailed introduction. Are the uses of alginic acid and sodium alginate the same? What is the difference?

　　Alginate is light yellow powder; Odorless; Almost tasteless, insoluble in water, methanol, ethanol, acetone and chloroform, soluble in sodium hydroxide alkali solution. It is helpful for suspension, thickening, emulsification and adhesion. Can be used as microcapsule material, or as coating and film-forming material.

　　The main function of alginic acid

　　Industrial application of alginic acid

　　Alginate can quickly absorb water and can be used as dehydrating agent and sizing agent in paper and textile industries.

　　In the form of sodium alginate or potassium alginate, it is used as emulsifier or thickener in food industry and daily chemical industry.

　　It is a common ingredient in food and cosmetics such as ice cream and milkshake.

　　Medical application of alginic acid

　　In the pharmaceutical industry, alginic acid is a commonly used auxiliary material.

　　Its viscosity makes it a binder for tablets.

　　Because it swells in water, it is also used as a disintegrant to disperse tablets in human body.

　　Used as dispersant to disperse effective components into liquid to become suspension.

　　Alginate is used as a drug sustained release agent.

　　Dentistry uses it to replace gypsum and rubber to make dental molds.

　　Alginate itself can be used as an absorbent to treat heavy metal poisoning.

The article on sodium alginate, Nanshan Biotechnology is not much to say here. For details, please see:

How to use sodium alginate? How to use sodium alginate?