Xanthan Gum Food Binder

Xanthan gum is a water-soluble extracellular polysaccharide produced by fermentation with Xanthomonas campestris.

CAS No.: 11138-66-2.

Appearance: pale yellow to white powder, odorless or with a slight odor.

It has a β-1,4-linked glucose backbone. Every two glucose units are attached to a trisaccharide side chain composed of mannose–glucuronic acid–mannose. Some mannose units carry acetyl and pyruvate groups. The molecular weight is approximately 2–15 million.

1. Food Industry (60–70% of total applications)

Core functions: thickener, stabilizer, suspending agent, emulsifier, water-retention agent

Beverages:

Fruit juice drinks, carbonated beverages, and plant protein drinks; addition level 0.1–0.5%. Prevents phase separation and sedimentation, improves mouthfeel.

Dairy products:

Yogurt, ice cream, cheese; prevents whey separation and improves texture and stability.

Condiments:

Salad dressings, sauces, soy sauce; increases viscosity, stabilizes emulsions, and improves taste.

Baked goods:

Bread, cakes, biscuits; improves dough extensibility, extends shelf life, and enhances product quality.

Meat products:

Ham, sausages, meatballs; improves water-holding capacity and elasticity, enhances slicing performance.

Frozen foods:

Frozen dough and frozen desserts; improves freeze–thaw stability and prevents ice crystal formation.

2. Pharmaceutical & Health Products

Pharmaceutical excipient:

Used as a binder and disintegrant in tablets and capsules, and as a thickener and stabilizer in oral liquids.

Controlled/extended-release formulations:

Acts as a drug carrier to control release rate and improve bioavailability.

Nutritional supplements:

Serves as a source of dietary fiber; recommended daily intake 5–10 g to promote gut health.

Medical foods:

Used in foods for special medical purposes to provide stable texture and mouthfeel.

3. Personal Care & Cosmetics

Skincare products:

Creams, lotions, serums; increases viscosity, improves skin feel, and extends moisturization time.

Shampoos/conditioners:

Improves foam stability and enhances hair smoothness.

Toothpaste/mouthwash:

Improves texture and prolongs the residence time of active ingredients.

Color cosmetics:

Foundations, lipsticks; improves stability and application performance.

4. Industrial Applications

Oil industry:

Used in drilling and fracturing fluids to improve proppant-carrying capacity, reduce fluid loss, and stabilize wellbores.

Water treatment:

Acts as a flocculant and filter aid in wastewater treatment and drinking water purification.

Paper industry:

Used as a paper strength enhancer and surface sizing agent to improve paper strength and printability.

Textile industry:

Used as a printing paste and dyeing auxiliary to improve print clarity and dye uniformity.

Coatings industry:

Used as a thickener and stabilizer to improve rheology and application performance of coatin