Products
Alginic acid and its salts are used as excipients in pharmaceuticals.
Structure and properties
Alginic acid is a copolymer consisting of a mixture of polyuronic acids from different proportions of β-(14)-D-mannuronic acid and α-(14)-L-guluronic acid. It is mainly obtained from brown algae. Alginic acid exists as a white to pale yellowish-brown, crystalline or amorphous powder and swells in water without dissolving. The salts of alginic acid are called alginates. These include sodium alginate, potassium alginate and calcium alginate.
Effects
Alginic acid has swelling, stabilizing, and viscosity-increasing properties.
Fields of application
As a binder, disintegrant, as a thickening agent and for the preparation of sustained release drugs.
