SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO GELLAN GUM
From Discovery to Global Industry Standard
🧬 What is Gellan Gum?
A unique microbial polysaccharide with multifunctional uses
Gellan gum is a high-performance, water-soluble polysaccharide produced by fermenting the bacterium Sphingomonas elodea. It acts as a gelling, stabilizing, suspending, and thickening agent, prized for its:
- Thermally stable gels
- Clean-label profile (vegan, allergen-free)
- Versatility across industries
Molecular structure:
Composed of repeating tetrasaccharide units:
🔹 D-glucose
🔹 D-glucuronic acid
🔹 L-rhamnose
These sugars create a backbone allowing gelation with divalent ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺).
🧪 Discovery & Commercial Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1978 | Discovered by Kelco scientists (USA) |
| 1988 | Food use approved in Japan |
| 1992 | Granted E-number status in EU (E418) |
| 2000s | Expanded to pharma & plant tissue culture |
| 2010+ | CINOGEL BIOTECH begins specialty production |
⚖️ Why Gellan Gum? — Key Advantages
| Property | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Low Dosage Gelation | Effective at 0.015%–0.05% in beverages |
| Thermo-Stability | Holds structure through heat & cold cycles |
| Clear Gels | Excellent transparency (Low Acyl grade) |
| Clean Label | Vegan, allergen-free, non-GMO, Kosher, Halal |
| pH & Ion Stability | Stable pH 3–8, compatible with divalent cations |
| Textural Range | Elastic (HA) or firm & brittle (LA) gels |
🏭 Application Industries
| Industry | Typical Uses |
|---|---|
| Food & Beverage | Juice suspension, dairy-free gels, vegan yogurts, almond milk, sauces, puddings |
| Pharmaceuticals | Oral gels, wound dressings, sustained-release tablets |
| Cosmetics & Personal Care | Gel creams, peel-off masks, stable clear emulsions |
| Plant Tissue Culture | Micropropagation of orchids, bananas, strawberries |
| Industrial | 3D printing bio-inks, enzyme immobilization, encapsulation |
🧭 Summary
Gellan gum is a trusted industrial hydrocolloid renowned for:
- Safety and reliability
- Functional versatility
- Clean-label status
- Low usage with high impact
CINOGEL BIOTECH's high-purity gellan gum solutions empower manufacturers worldwide to formulate confidently with consistent quality and innovative performance.
