Alginic acid sodium salt by MP Biomedicals is a high-grade reagent. Also known as alginate, this is an anionic polysaccharide distributed widely in the cell walls of brown algae, where it forms a viscous gum through binding with water. It is soluble in water, forming a viscous, colloidal solution, and insoluble in alcohol and in hydro-alcoholic solutions in which the alcohol content is > 30%. It is insoluble in chloroform, ether, in aqueous acid solutions when the pH is below 3. It is also an important component of the biofilms produced by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

• CAS: 9002-18-0
• Molecular Formula: (C₆H₇O₆Na)_n
• Source: Macrocystis pyrifera (Kelp)
• Solubility: Soluble in water
• Medium viscosity, viscosity of a 1% aqueous solution (25°C) is approximately 600 – 900 cps

Alginic acid sodium salt has been used in the flocculation of solids in water treatment; as sizing agent; a thickener; emulsion stabilizer; and a suspending agent. It is also 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. Alginate may be used in a hydrogel consisting of micro-particles or bulk gels combined with nerve growth factor in bioengineering research to stimulate brain tissue for possible regeneration.