Calcium Alginate (E404)

Calcium Alginate (E404)

Category

Additional information

Product Name

Calcium Alginate (E404)

Cas No.:

9005-35-0

Origin

Brown seaweed (natural marine source)

Appearance

White to yellowish fibrous or granular powder

Solubility

Insoluble in water, but swells and forms gels in the presence of calcium ions

Functions & Benefits

Gelling agent, stabilizer, thickener, and film-forming material

Applications

Food, Pharmaceuticals, Medicals etc

Product Details


💎 1. Product Introduction

Calcium Alginate (E404) is a naturally derived polysaccharide obtained from brown seaweed through alginic acid extraction and calcium neutralization. It is widely used as a gelling agent, stabilizer, thickener, and film-forming material in food, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors.

Chibio Biotech supplies high-quality, food-grade Calcium Alginate with controlled purity, excellent gel strength, and reliable microbiological safety, meeting international application requirements.


🌿 2. Source & Basic Information

  • Product Name: Calcium Alginate

  • Food Additive Code: E404

  • CAS Number: 9005-35-0

  • Origin: Brown seaweed (natural marine source)

  • Grade: Food Grade

  • Appearance: White to yellowish fibrous or granular powder

  • Packaging: 25 kg PE bag / Paper drum


⚗️ 3. Technical Specifications

According to the Certificate of Analysis  :

  • Loss on Drying: ≤15%

  • Calcium Alginate Content (anhydrous basis): 89.6% – 104.5%

  • Calcium Oxide Content: 18.0% – 21.0%

  • Formaldehyde: ≤50 ppm

  • Heavy Metals Limits:

    • Arsenic (As): ≤2.0 ppm

    • Lead (Pb): ≤2.0 ppm

    • Mercury (Hg): ≤1.0 ppm

    • Cadmium (Cd): ≤1.0 ppm

    • Total heavy metals: ≤40.0 ppm

  • Microbiological Standards:

    • Total Plate Count: ≤5000 cfu/g

    • Yeast & Mold: ≤500 cfu/g

    • Salmonella: Negative / 10g

    • E. coli: Negative / 5g

  • Shelf Life: 24 months

  • Storage: Cool, dry place; avoid moisture and heat


💧 4. Solubility & Functional Behavior

  • Insoluble in water, but swells and forms gels in the presence of calcium ions

  • Forms heat-stable gels (does not require heating to gel)

  • Reacts with sodium alginate to form firm, elastic calcium gels

  • Compatible with sugars, salts, and many hydrocolloid systems


✅ 5. Key Benefits

  1. Excellent Cold-Set Gelling – Forms stable gels without heating

  2. Thermally Stable – Gels remain stable under moderate heat

  3. Natural & Clean Label – Derived from seaweed, widely accepted in natural food formulations

  4. Controlled Gel Strength – Adjustable by calcium concentration

  5. Safe & Food-Grade – Meets heavy metal and microbiological safety standards

  6. Versatile Texture Modifier – Enables soft gels to firm structures


🧬 6. Functions of Calcium Alginate

  1. Gelling Agent

    Forms strong, elastic gels when reacting with calcium ions, widely used in structured foods.

  2. Stabilizer

    Improves product stability by preventing phase separation in beverages and emulsions.

  3. Thickening Agent

    Enhances viscosity and mouthfeel in sauces, dressings, and dairy alternatives.

  4. Encapsulation Material

    Used in molecular gastronomy and food technology for encapsulating flavors or nutrients.

  5. Film-Forming Agent

    Creates protective edible films and coatings.

  6. Moisture Control Agent

    Maintains water balance and prevents syneresis in processed foods.


🧴 7. Applications

🍮 Food Industry

  • Jelly products

  • Reconstituted fruits

  • Structured meat products

  • Ice cream and dairy desserts

  • Molecular gastronomy (spherification)

💊 Pharmaceutical & Medical

  • Wound dressings (calcium alginate fibers)

  • Drug delivery matrix

  • Controlled-release systems

🏭 Industrial Uses

  • Textile printing thickener

  • Paper coating

  • Biodegradable film production


⚙️ 8. Production Process

Brown Seaweed Harvesting

Extraction of Alginic Acid

Neutralization with Calcium Salts

Drying & Milling

Quality Control & Packaging

✅ Final Product: Food-Grade Calcium Alginate (E404)


🏆 9. Why Choose Chibio Biotech?

  • 🌿 Reliable marine-sourced raw materials

  • 🧪 Strict heavy metal & microbiological control

  • 📦 Bulk supply capability (25kg packaging standard)

  • 🌍 Export-ready documentation and compliance

  • 📊 Consistent batch-to-batch quality


💼 10. Why Your Business Should Use Calcium Alginate

  • Develop innovative structured foods and gels

  • Improve texture, stability, and shelf life

  • Enable clean-label and plant-based claims

  • Utilize safe, internationally recognized food additive (E404)

  • Expand into functional and premium formulations


📢 11. Summary & Call to Action

Chibio Biotech’s Calcium Alginate (E404) offers reliable gelling performance, food-grade safety, and formulation versatility for modern food and industrial applications.

📩 Looking for premium Calcium Alginate for your food or pharmaceutical projects?

📧 Email: sales@chibiotech.com

📞 Phone: +86 (0)532 66983270

🌍 Website: www.chibiotech.com

Partner with Chibio Biotech – Natural Hydrocolloid Solutions You Can Trust. 🌿

Get in touch with us to boost your business

Headquarter

Block B, Vanke Center, No.2 Heilongjiang South Road, Shibei District, Qingdao City, China 266033

Phone

+86 (0)532 66983270

Cellphone / WhatsApp / WeChat

+86 156 6577 2296
+86 133 8100 5417

sales@chibiotech.com

Let's get in touch to start 100% natural plant-based life NOW!