Preguntas frecuentes

How many types of gellan gum are there?

Currently, gellan gum products are primarily categorized into two main types: low-acyl (acyl content less than 1%) and high-acyl (approximately 3.75% acetyl groups, 11.5% glyceryl groups, and a total acyl content around 15%). This classification is essentially how commercial markets differentiate gellan gum grades. However, intermediate-acyl gellan gum is also available in the market. This type is typically produced through mild deacylation methods, such as controlling pH around 9 and deacylation temperature at about 50°C, to maintain an intermediate level of acyl content.

Different grades of gellan gum exhibit significantly different properties. Low-acyl gellan gum can form brittle and hard gels. Since the extraction process usually involves high-temperature filtration, which removes protein and microbial residue, low-acyl grades are generally transparent. High-acyl gellan gum, on the other hand, forms soft and elastic gels. High-acyl gellan gum has higher viscosity and a higher gelling temperature, making filtration difficult; therefore, most commercially available high-acyl gellan gums are opaque.

CAG Company has a specialized high-acyl purification process that can provide transparent high-acyl gellan gum.

 High acyl gellan gum                                                                        Low acyl gellan gum 

For the best hydrocolloid solution tailored to your specific product, please feel free to contact our technical support team at info@cagcolloids.com.