🌿 Gellan Gum (CAS 71010-52-1): The Science Behind the Perfect Gel
🧾 What Does 'CAS 71010-52-1' Mean?
🔍 Understanding CAS Numbers
CAS stands for Chemical Abstracts Service, a division of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
Every chemical substance registered in the CAS database receives a unique numerical identifier called a CAS Registry Number.
💡 Purpose of a CAS Number:
- Acts like a chemical fingerprint — unique worldwide.
- Removes confusion caused by different chemical or trade names.
- Helps laboratories, suppliers, and regulators refer to the exact same substance unambiguously.
🔢 Why "71010-52-1"?
This specific number — 71010-52-1 — was assigned by CAS to Gellan Gum after its discovery in the 1980s by scientists at Kelco (now CP Kelco).
Here's how it breaks down:
- 71010 → Registration sequence in the CAS system.
- 52 → Substance-specific identifier.
- 1 → Check digit ensuring accuracy.
So when you see Gellan Gum (CAS 71010-52-1), it's not a random number — it's the globally recognized ID confirming the chemical identity of gellan gum as a distinct, pure compound in scientific and trade records.
🧬 What Is Gellan Gum?
Gellan Gum (CAS 71010-52-1) is a natural, water-soluble polysaccharide produced by the bacterium Sphingomonas elodea. It’s widely recognized for its powerful gelling, stabilizing, and texturizing properties, making it a premium hydrocolloid across multiple industries — from food and beverages to pharmaceuticals and plant tissue culture.
Unlike many other gums, gellan gum forms clear, stable gels at very low concentrations, providing a perfect balance of strength and elasticity.
⚗️ Chemical Identification
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Gellan Gum |
| CAS Number | 71010-52-1 |
| Molecular Formula | (C₆H₁₀O₇)ₙ |
| E Number (EU) | E418 |
| Origin | Microbial fermentation of Sphingomonas elodea |
| Appearance | Off-white to cream powder |
| Solubility | Soluble in hot water; forms stable gel upon cooling |
🍰 Applications of Gellan Gum (CAS 71010-52-1)
🥤 1. Food & Beverage Stabilizer
Gellan gum creates smooth textures and suspension effects without affecting flavor or color.
- In beverages: keeps fruit pulps, cocoa, or calcium evenly suspended.
- In desserts: forms soft, elastic gels that are heat-stable and visually clear.
- In dairy alternatives: perfect for oat, almond, or soy-based drinks — providing natural mouthfeel and preventing phase separation.
💡 Pro Tip: A combination of High Acyl (HA) and Low Acyl (LA) gellan gum gives both creaminess and firmness — ideal for modern plant-based beverages.
🌱 2. Plant Tissue Culture (Gel Matrix)
In laboratories, gellan gum (CAS 71010-52-1) replaces agar as a gelling agent in plant tissue culture media, often sold under brands like Gelrite® or Phytagel®.
✨ Advantages in tissue culture:
- Produces clearer and firmer gels than agar.
- Lower ion content, reducing media interference.
- High reproducibility — consistent gel strength and clarity batch to batch.
👩🔬 Typical concentration: 2.5–4.0 g/L depending on plant species and media formulation.
For delicate explants, use High Acyl Gellan Gum (HA) to create softer gels for gentle support.
💊 3. Pharmaceutical and Personal Care
Gellan gum is used in oral suspensions, gels, and controlled-release formulations, as well as cosmetic gels and masks.
- Provides excellent viscosity control and stability over time.
- Compatible with various actives and skin-safe ingredients.
- Offers film-forming properties for serums and lotions.
💧 Example: In eye drops, gellan gum acts as an in-situ gelling agent, turning liquid into a gel when it contacts ions in the eye.
🧪 How to Use Gellan Gum Effectively
🔥 Dissolution Steps:
- Disperse gellan gum powder in cold water (0.1–0.5% concentration).
- Stir vigorously to prevent clumping.
- Heat to 85–90°C until fully dissolved.
- Add other ingredients (salts, sugars, acids) after dissolution.
- Cool down to form gel or allow to hydrate depending on application.
⚖️ Recommended Dosage by Industry:
| Application | Dosage Range |
|---|---|
| Beverage suspension | 0.03–0.1% |
| Plant tissue culture | 0.25–0.4% |
| Pudding / Dessert gels | 0.3–0.6% |
| Pharmaceutical gels | 0.1–0.5% |
🌎 Environmental and Health Benefits
✅ 100% Vegan & Halal-certified
✅ Non-GMO, gluten-free, and allergen-free
✅ Biodegradable and environmentally sustainable
✅ Replaces animal-based gelatin and synthetic thickeners
With global demand shifting toward clean-label and plant-derived ingredients, gellan gum (CAS 71010-52-1) stands out as a future-proof solution for manufacturers seeking sustainability without performance compromise.
🏭 Why Choose CINOGEL BIOTECH?
At CINOGEL Biotech, we specialize in pure, high-quality gellan gum — both High Acyl (HA) and Low Acyl (LA) grades — manufactured under ISO and HACCP-certified facilities.
🔹 Consistent gel strength and clarity
🔹 Full technical support for formulation optimization
🔹 Custom packaging and OEM supply available
Whether you’re developing plant-based beverages, pharma-grade gels, or plant tissue culture media, CINOGEL Biotech delivers the expertise and purity you can trust.
🔍 Keyword Focus:
CAS 71010-52-1, Gellan Gum E418, Gellan Gum Manufacturer, High Acyl Gellan Gum, Low Acyl Gellan Gum, Plant Tissue Culture Gelling Agent, Food Stabilizer CAS 71010-52-1, Pharmaceutical Hydrocolloid.
💬 Final Thoughts
From the laboratory bench to the dining table, Gellan Gum (CAS 71010-52-1) continues to redefine innovation in texture, stability, and sustainability. Whether your goal is to build a stable drink, grow a plant, or deliver a drug, this single ingredient makes it possible — naturally and efficiently.
