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#redirect[[Alginic acid#Sodium alginate]]
The [[chemical compound]] '''sodium alginate''' is the [[sodium]] [[salt]] of [[alginic acid]]. Its [[empirical formula|empirical chemical formula]] is NaC<sub>6</sub>H<sub>7</sub>O<sub>6</sub>. Its form as a [[natural gum|gum]], when extracted from the cell walls of brown [[algae]], is used by the foods industry to increase [[viscosity]] and as an [[emulsifier]]. It is also used in indigestion tablets and the preparation of dental impressions. Sodium alginate has no discernible flavor.

Another major use of sodium alginate is [[reactive dye printing]], where it is used in the [[textile industry]].

==Uses==
A major application for sodium alginate is as thickener for reactive dyestuffs (such as the Procion cotton-reactive dyes) in textile screen-printing and carpet jet-printing. Alginates do not react with these dyes and wash out easily, unlike starch-based thickeners.

Sodium alginate is a good chelator for pulling radioactive toxins such as iodine-131 and strontium-90 from the body which have taken the place of their non-radioactive counterparts.<ref>Sutton, A., Harrison, G. E., Carr, T. E., and Barltrop, D. Reduction in the absorption of dietary strontium in children by an alginate derivative. Br.J.Radiol. 44[523], 567. 1971</ref><ref>Sutton, A., Harrison, B. E., Carr, T. E., and Barltrop, D. Reduction in the absorption of dietary strontium in children by an alginate derivative. Int.J.Radiat.Biol.Relat Stud.Phys.Chem.Med. 19[1], 79-85. 1971</ref> It is also used in [[Immobilized enzyme|immobilizing enzymes]] by inclusion.

As a food additive, sodium alginate is used especially in the production of gel-like foods. For example, bakers' "Chellies" are often gelled alginate "jam." Also, the pimento stuffing in prepared cocktail olives is usually injected as a slurry at the same time that the stone is ejected; the slurry is subsequently set by immersing the olive in a solution of a [[calcium salt]] which causes rapid gelation by electrostatic cross-linking. A similar process can be used to make "chunks" of everything from cat food through "reformed" ham or fish to "fruit" pieces for pies. It has the [[E-number]] 401.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.10/start.html?pg=4 article] [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] on [[Easy Cheese]], describing sodium alginate

[[Category:Food additives]]
[[Category:Sodium compounds]]
[[Category:Dental materials]]
[[Category:Alginates]]

[[ar:ألجينات صوديوم]]
[[fr:Alginate de sodium]]
[[hu:Nátrium-alginát]]
[[nl:Natriumalginaat]]
[[ja:アルギン酸ナトリウム]]
[[pt:Alginato de sódio]]

Latest revision as of 02:52, 28 January 2011