🌐 Understanding Gellan Gum (E418): The Truth About Gelrite, Phytagel, and Gellan Variants
📌 Keywords: gellan gum E418, low acyl gellan gum, high acyl gellan gum, Gelrite brand, Phytagel brand, plant tissue culture gelling agent, food thickener, CINOGEL Biotech
🧬 What is Gellan Gum?
Gellan gum (E418) is a water-soluble polysaccharide produced by the fermentation of Sphingomonas elodea bacteria. It is widely used as a gelling agent, stabilizer, or thickener in:
- 🥤 Food and beverage
- 🌱 Plant tissue culture
- 💊 Pharmaceuticals
- 🧴 Cosmetics
- 🧫 Microbiological media
🧾 Gellan Gum = Only 2 Types
All pure gellan gum products belong to one of two functional types:
🔹 1. Low Acyl Gellan Gum
- Forms firm, brittle, and transparent gels
- Used in: microbiology, tissue culture (e.g., Gelrite, Phytagel), and some beverages
- Ideal for: precise gel strength and clarity
🔸 2. High Acyl Gellan Gum
- Forms soft, elastic, and opaque gels
- Used in: dairy alternatives (like almond/oat milk), sauces, soft gels
- Ideal for: creamy textures and heat stability
🔍 There is no "Gelrite" gellan gum or "Phytagel" gellan gum as chemical classifications. These are brand names for low acyl gellan gum.
🏷️ The Many Names of Gellan Gum: Explained
| 📘 Name | 💬 What It Means | ✅ Type |
|---|---|---|
| Gellan Gum | The general name for this hydrocolloid | Low or High Acyl |
| E418 | Food additive code for gellan gum (EU labeling) | Low or High Acyl |
| Gelrite® | A brand name for low acyl gellan gum | 🔹 Low Acyl Only |
| Phytagel® | Another brand name for low acyl gellan gum | 🔹 Low Acyl Only |
| Goma Gellan | Spanish for "Gellan Gum" | Low or High Acyl |
| Gélane | French term for gellan gum | Low or High Acyl |
| Transparent Agar Substitute | Used in labs or tissue culture product sheets | 🔹 Low Acyl (typically) |
❗ Clarifying Customer Confusion: Gelrite and Phytagel Are Not Chemical Names
Many customers-especially in the plant tissue culture or academic research sectors—often say:
"We need Gelrite or Phytagel, not gellan gum!"
🛑 This is a common misunderstanding.
🔎 Here's the truth:
- Both Gelrite® and Phytagel® are simply trademarked product names for low acyl gellan gum.
- If your application (e.g., tissue culture media) calls for "Gelrite" or "Phytagel," you're actually using low acyl gellan gum.
- Chemically, they are identical in function to any high-purity low acyl gellan gum from reliable manufacturers like CINOGEL Biotech.
✔️ So, when a supplier like CINOGEL offers low acyl gellan gum, it can fully replace both Gelrite and Phytagel in all common applications-often with better cost-effectiveness and consistent quality.
🏭 Why Choose CINOGEL Biotech's Gellan Gum?
At CINOGEL BIOTECH, we manufacture both:
- ✅ Low Acyl Gellan Gum (replacing Gelrite, Phytagel)
- ✅ High Acyl Gellan Gum (for dairy alternatives and more)
🔬 Quality Assured:
- ✅ High clarity & strong gel strength (low acyl)
- ✅ Non-GMO, ISO-certified
- ✅ Application support from plant tissue culture to food and pharma
📌 We help customers worldwide clearly understand their material needs to avoid costly confusion with brand names.
📢 Final Takeaway: Know What You're Buying
🔹 If your protocol says "use Gelrite" or "Phytagel", you are not locked to one brand.
➡️ What you need is:
- Low Acyl Gellan Gum – same functionality, better flexibility, and potentially lower cost.
🎯 By switching to the actual material name (low or high acyl gellan gum), you ensure:
- Consistency across suppliers
- Better purchasing decisions
- Clearer communication between departments
📞 Need Help Choosing the Right Gellan Gum?
Let the experts at CINOGEL Biotech assist you!
📧 Email: gellangum@cinogel.com
🌐 Website: www.cinogel.com | www.gellangum.net
