E404 CALCIUM ALGINATE

E404 Calcium alginate is odorless and tasteless.
E404 Calcium alginate supports controlled hydration.
E404 Calcium alginate is chemically stable under normal conditions, but may degrade under strong acids or chelating agents (like EDTA), which remove calcium ions.

CAS Number: 9005-35-0
Molecular Formula: C18H24CaO19
Molecular Weight: 1170.93
EINECS Number: 234-394-2

Synonyms: E404 Calcium alginate , C18H24CaO19, SCHEMBL28959984, calcium;6-[2-carboxy-6-(2-carboxylato-4,5,6-trihydroxy-tetrahydropyran-3-yl)oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-tetrahydropyran-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxy-tetrahydropyran-2-carboxylate, POLYMANNURONIC ACID SODIUM SALT;SODIUM ALGINATE 80-120;SODIUM ALGINATE 500-600;SODIUM ALGINATE 300-400;ca33;calginate;kaltostat;alginic acid calcium salt from brown algae

E404 Calcium alginate breaks down the gel structure.
E404 Calcium alginate is widely used in food, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical dressings.
It provides structure and moisture control.

E404 Calcium alginate highlights its versatility.
E404 Calcium alginate is best described as a calcium-crosslinked alginate hydrogel with strong gelling, water-retention, and biocompatible properties, widely used in food and biomedical applications.
E404 Calcium alginate exhibits selective ion exchange behavior, meaning calcium ions in the gel can be gradually replaced by other ions (such as sodium or potassium) depending on the environment.

E404 Calcium alginate can weaken or modify the gel structure.
E404 Calcium alginate is important in controlled-release applications.

The material shows tunable porosity, which depends on calcium concentration and alginate composition.
Higher calcium levels create tighter networks.

This controls diffusion rates of embedded substances.
E404 Calcium alginate hydrogels have excellent shape-retention properties, allowing them to maintain molded forms such as beads or capsules.
They resist deformation under mild stress.

This is useful in encapsulation systems.
E404 Calcium alginate can act as a protective barrier against harsh environments, shielding sensitive compounds from oxygen, light, and pH changes.
The compound exhibits strong gel-forming ability, producing stable hydrogels through ionic crosslinking.

E404 Calcium alginate forms “egg-box” structures with calcium ions.
This gives it mechanical strength.

E404 Calcium alginate has high water absorption and retention capacity, allowing it to form moist gel matrices.
This is important in biological and medical uses.

E404 Calcium alginate is also used for entrapment of enzymes and forming artificial seeds in plant tissue culture.
E404 Calcium alginate is a water-insoluble calcium salt of alginic acid, widely used as a gelling, stabilizing, and wound-healing material in food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications.
E404 Calcium alginate is derived from alginic acid obtained from brown seaweeds.

E404 Calcium alginate belongs to the class of alginate hydrocolloids.
Chemically, E404 Calcium alginate consists of polysaccharide chains of mannuronic and guluronic acid units crosslinked by calcium ions (Ca²⁺).
These ionic bridges form a three-dimensional network.

This structure is responsible for gel formation.
Physically, E404 Calcium alginate appears as a white to off-white fibrous or granular solid.
It is insoluble in water but can swell and form hydrogels.

E404 Calcium alginate is a natural, biocompatible, and biodegradable fiber derived from brown seaweed, commonly used as a highly absorbent, moisture-retentive wound dressing. 
E404 Calcium alginate absorbs up to 20 times its weight in exudate, forming a gel that promotes a moist healing environment for moderate-to-heavy draining, chronic, and surgical wounds. 
E404 Calcium alginate is a water-insoluble, gelatinous, cream-coloured substance that can be created through the addition of aqueous calcium chloride to aqueous sodium alginate.

Density: 2.1173 g/cm³
FEMA: 2015 | ALGINATES, SODIUM, CALCIUM, AND AMMONIUM
storage temp.: room temp
solubility: Practically insoluble in chloroform, ethanol, ether, water, and other organic solvents. Soluble in dilute solutions of sodium citrate and of sodium bicarbonate and in sodium chloride solution. Soluble in alkaline solutions or in solutions of substances that combine with calcium
form: powder
Specific Gravity: 1.6
color: White to Gray to Brown
Odor: odorless
biological source: algae (brown)
Merck: 14,242
Cosmetics Ingredients Functions: FRAGRANCE; VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR): E404 Calcium alginate (9005-35-0)
InChIKey: OKHHGHGGPDJQHR-YMOPUZKJSA-L
SMILES: [Ca+2].[O-]C(=O)[C@@H]1OC@HO
LogP: -1.53

E404 Calcium alginate, a colloidal polyuronic acid structural molecule capable of gelation, is used in the preparation of colloidal biodegradable structures such as gels, biofilms, beads, nanoparticles, and microcapsules suitable for applications that range from gel based separation technologies to drug delivery and cell preservation.
E404 Calcium alginate has been around for years. More recently, it has been added to wound gels, hydrocolloids, and cleansers. 
Silver, a known antimicrobial agent, also has been added to many wound products, including E404 Calcium alginate. 

Unadulterated E404 Calcium alginate comes in the form of a flat square or mat (in many sizes) or a rope. 
The ropes can be manipulated to fit easily in wound cavities. 
Although one of its stated uses is to provide homeostasis, E404 Calcium alginate is more commonly thought of as the dressing that can absorb 20 times its weight in exudate, soak up loose debris from the wound bed, provide an optimal environment for healing, and provide a painless dressing change. 

This study is a reminder that E404 Calcium alginate is a valuable tool in our wound care arsenal.
E404 Calcium alginate forms a three-dimensional hydrogel network through strong ionic crosslinking between calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and guluronic acid blocks of alginate.
This “egg-box” structure is highly stable.

E404 Calcium alginate gives the material its firm gel texture.
The gel strength depends on the ratio of guluronic (G) to mannuronic (M) acid units in the alginate chain.
Higher G-content produces stronger, more rigid gels.

This allows control of mechanical properties.
E404 Calcium alginate is insoluble in water but highly swellable, absorbing large amounts of liquid without dissolving.
It forms soft or firm hydrogels depending on conditions.

This is useful in controlled systems.
It exhibits good mechanical stability under mild conditions, but can be broken down by chelating agents (e.g., citrate, phosphate, EDTA) that remove calcium ions.
This reverses gel formation.

This enables controlled degradation.
The material has excellent biocompatibility, making it suitable for medical and pharmaceutical applications.
It is generally non-toxic and well tolerated.

This supports biomedical use.
E404 Calcium alginate can be formed into beads, fibers, films, and sponge-like structures.
These forms are used for encapsulation and delivery systems.

This increases application flexibility.
It shows controlled permeability, allowing diffusion of small molecules while retaining larger ones.
This makes it useful for encapsulation.

E404 Calcium alginate supports controlled release.
The compound is thermally stable at moderate temperatures, but prolonged heating may weaken the gel network.

Proper processing conditions are important.
E404 Calcium alginate is a highly stable, ionically crosslinked hydrogel with strong water retention, controlled permeability, and excellent biocompatibility, making it valuable in food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical systems.

E404 Calcium alginate demonstrates controlled swelling behavior, absorbing water until equilibrium is reached.
Swelling depends on ionic strength and pH.
This allows responsive behavior.

E404 Calcium alginate supports encapsulation of cells, enzymes, and bioactive compounds.
E404 Calcium alginate provides a semi-permeable matrix for biological systems.
This is important in biotechnology and tissue engineering.

E404 Calcium alginate shows good compatibility with biological tissues, making it suitable for wound care and regenerative medicine.
It does not typically cause irritation or toxicity.
This supports medical applications.

The material is biodegradable under physiological conditions, gradually breaking down in the presence of chelating agents and enzymes.
E404 Calcium alginate is the calcium salt of alginic acid, a natural polyuronide constituent of certain brown algae. 
E404 Calcium alginate is prepared by the neutralization of purified alginic acid with appropriate pH control agents, or from sodium alginate by metathesis with appropriate calcium salts.

Uses:
E404 Calcium alginate is widely used in the food industry as a gelling and structuring agent (E404).
E404 Calcium alginate helps form stable gels and textures in restructured foods.
This improves product consistency.

In spherification (molecular gastronomy), it is used to create gel beads when droplets of sodium alginate are dropped into calcium solutions.
E404 Calcium alginate forms a thin gel membrane around liquids.
This creates encapsulated “caviar-like” spheres.

E404 Calcium alginate is applied in meat and fish products to bind and restructure ingredients.
It improves texture and water retention.
E404 Calcium alginate enhances product quality.

E404 Calcium alginate is used in dairy and dessert systems to stabilize gels and improve mouthfeel.
It helps maintain structure during storage.
This improves sensory properties.

In pharmaceutical applications, it is used as a controlled-release matrix and tablet excipient.
E404 Calcium alginate regulates drug diffusion.
This improves therapeutic performance.

E404 Calcium alginate is widely used in wound dressings, where E404 Calcium alginate fibers absorb wound exudate and form a protective gel.
It maintains a moist healing environment.
E404 Calcium alginate supports faster healing.

In biotechnology, it is used to immobilize cells, enzymes, and microorganisms.
E404 Calcium alginate provides a protective gel matrix.
This supports bioprocessing and research.

E404 Calcium alginate is applied in drug delivery systems, including beads and hydrogels for sustained release.
It controls release of active compounds.
This improves efficiency.

In water treatment and industrial processes, it is used for encapsulation and adsorption systems.
E404 Calcium alginate helps trap contaminants or active agents.
E404 Calcium alginate is used wherever gel formation, encapsulation, controlled release, and absorbent hydrogel properties are required across food, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and industrial applications.

E404 Calcium alginate is the calcium salt of alginic acid which functions as a stabilizer and thickener. 
The partial obtainment of calcium alg- inate by the reaction of the water-soluble alginate with calcium ions is used to obtain viscosity and gel formation. 
E404 Calcium alginate is used in icings, imitation pulp, dessert gels, and fabricated fruits.

E404 Calcium alginate is used as a visual accent in cosmetics. 
This is an alginate gel impregnated with an oily core material that can be pigmented or neutral in color. 
E404 Calcium alginate can also be used to mask odor and adjust product viscosity.

E404 Calcium alginate is used in many applications and new ones are being found all the time. 
The uses range from applications in the food industry to wound dressings, medicines and dental impression materials.

E404 Calcium alginate is used in wound dressings. 
These dressings are particularly useful for slow healing wounds like leg ulcers, which can continue to bleed and weep for a long time. 
Part of the blood clotting mechanism involves calcium ions and on contact with blood the E404 Calcium alginate releases calcium ions in exchange for sodium ions – just as you observed in the experiment above.

These extra calcium ions can help the blood to clot and encourage healing. 
E404 Calcium alginate is easy to remove any excess E404 Calcium alginate when the dressing has to be changed.
E404 Calcium alginate dressings with silver have been found to be safe and effective for use for leg ulcers.

E404 Calcium alginate dressings are made from salts of alginic acid obtained from algae (Phaeophyceae sp.j found in seaweed. 
They are known for absorbing excess wound exudate and forming a non-adherent gel, which accelerates wound healing by promoting a moist wound healing environment, facilitating debridement, and helping to prevent trauma to the wound bed and the surrounding skin.

In pharmaceutical formulations, E404 Calcium alginate and calciumsodium alginate have been used as tablet disintegrants. 
The use of a high concentration (10%) of calcium-sodium alginate has been reported to cause slight speckling of tablets.
A range of different types of delivery systems intended for oral administration have been investigated. 

These exploit the gelling properties of E404 Calcium alginate. 
E404 Calcium alginate beads have been used to prepare floating dosage systems containing amoxicillin, furosemide, meloxicam, and barium sulfate, and as a means of providing a sustained or controlled-release action for sulindac, diclofenac, tiaramide, insulin, and ampicillin. 
The effect of citric acid in prolonging the gastric retention of E404 Calcium alginate floating dosage forms has been reported. 

Impregnating meloxicam in E404 Calcium alginate beads may reduce the risk of ulceration and mucosal inflammation following oral adminstration. 
The use of E404 Calcium alginate beads, reinforced with chitosan, has been shown to slow the release of verapamil, and may be useful for the controlled release of protein drugs to the gastrointestinal tract. 
The bioadhesive properties, swelling and drug release of E404 Calcium alginate beads have also been investigated.

Safety Profile:
Eye contact may cause mild mechanical irritation from particles or gel fragments.
Symptoms include redness and discomfort.
Eyes should be rinsed thoroughly with water if exposure occurs.

Inhalation of dust (powder form) may cause minor respiratory irritation.
Fine particles can irritate the nose and throat.
Adequate ventilation and dust control are recommended.

Ingestion is considered non-toxic at typical exposure levels, as alginates are used as food additives and dietary fibers.
Excessive intake may cause mild gastrointestinal effects such as bloating or laxative action.
E404 Calcium alginate adequate fluid intake is advised.

E404 Calcium alginate is not flammable under normal conditions, but fine powder may present a dust explosion risk in confined industrial environments.
Standard fire safety precautions should be followed.
The material is chemically stable under normal conditions, but can degrade in the presence of strong acids or chelating agents (e.g., EDTA, citrate), which remove calcium ions and break the gel structure.

Poison by intravenous route. 
Moderately toxic by intraperitoneal route. 
When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

E404 Calcium alginate presents very low hazard potential, as it is a biocompatible, naturally derived polysaccharide hydrogel widely used in food and medical applications.
E404 Calcium alginate is generally regarded as safe.
However, standard handling precautions apply in industrial form.

Skin contact is typically low risk, but prolonged exposure to dry powder may cause mild dryness or irritation in sensitive individuals.
The hydrated gel form is generally non-irritating.
Gloves are recommended for bulk handling.