Calcium Alginate is the calcium salt of alginic acid, a naturally derived polysaccharide obtained from certain brown seaweeds. It is a hydrocolloid with water-insoluble characteristics and is recognized for its stabilizing, thickening, gelling and emulsifying properties. JECFA identifies Calcium Alginate as the calcium salt of alginic acid and assigns it INS 404.
Alginic acid is a polysaccharide composed of mannuronic acid and guluronic acid residues. Calcium Alginate is produced when calcium ions are associated with the carboxyl groups of alginate.
Its polymeric structure and calcium-ion interactions give Calcium Alginate different functional characteristics from water-soluble alginate salts such as Sodium Alginate and Potassium Alginate.
Calcium Alginate is particularly known for its ability to form a gel-like network in the presence of suitable ionic conditions. Calcium ions interact with alginate chains and contribute to the formation of a three-dimensional polymer network.
This characteristic makes Calcium Alginate useful in applications where structure and gel formation are required.
JECFA identifies Calcium Alginate as having stabilizing, thickening, gelling-agent and emulsifying functions. Its rheological behavior depends on molecular weight, polymer composition, concentration, ionic conditions and processing conditions.
Calcium Alginate can be evaluated in selected cosmetic and personal-care formulations where a seaweed-derived alginate material with gelling and stabilizing properties is required.
Because Calcium Alginate is substantially less water-soluble than Sodium Alginate and Potassium Alginate, formulation design should consider dispersion, hydration and ionic compatibility.
Calcium Alginate can be used in selected skin-care systems, including cosmetic masks and structured formulations where gel formation and stabilization are desirable.
Alginate-based materials are particularly relevant to cosmetic mask systems because of their ability to create structured gel networks. Calcium Alginate can therefore be evaluated where a calcium-alginate structure is suitable for the formulation.
Sodium Alginate is the sodium salt of alginic acid and dissolves slowly in water to form a viscous solution. Calcium Alginate, in contrast, is substantially insoluble in water and has stronger calcium-associated polymer interactions.
Both are salts of alginic acid, but Potassium Alginate is water-compatible and forms viscous solutions, whereas Calcium Alginate is substantially water-insoluble and is more associated with gel-network formation.
Calcium Alginate is an alginate derived from brown seaweed, while Carrageenan is a sulfated polysaccharide obtained from selected red seaweeds. They belong to different polysaccharide families and have different chemical structures and formulation behavior.
Calcium Alginate is a polymeric material and therefore does not have one fixed molecular weight. JECFA reports a typical average macromolecular molecular-weight range of 10,000–600,000. Its theoretical structural-unit formula weight is 195.16, while the reported actual average is 219.
JECFA describes Calcium Alginate as insoluble in water and ether and slightly soluble in ethanol. It is slowly soluble in solutions containing sodium polyphosphate, sodium carbonate and substances capable of combining with calcium ions.
Calcium Alginate can be evaluated in:
Calcium Alginate is the calcium salt of alginic acid, a polysaccharide obtained from certain brown seaweeds.
The CAS number is 9005-35-0.
The cosmetic ingredient identity is Calcium Alginate.
The polymeric formula is (C₆H₇Ca₁/₂O₆)ₙ.
The INS number is 404.
Yes. Calcium Alginate is derived from alginic acid, which is obtained from certain brown seaweeds.
Calcium Alginate is described by JECFA as insoluble in water.
Yes. JECFA identifies Calcium Alginate as a gelling agent as well as a stabilizer, thickener and emulsifier.
Calcium Alginate is polymeric. JECFA reports a typical average macromolecular molecular-weight range of 10,000–600,000.
Calcium Alginate is the calcium salt and is insoluble in water, while Sodium Alginate is the sodium salt and dissolves slowly in water to produce a viscous solution.
Important parameters include assay, moisture, ash, molecular-weight characteristics, solubility, pH, viscosity or gel characteristics and microbiological quality.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder |