What is xanthan gum
Mar 17, 2021
Xanthan gum is an extracellular acidic heteropolysaccharide produced by Xanthomonas. D-glucose, D-mannose and D-glucuronic acid are high molecular weight polysaccharides with a ratio of 2:2:1. The secondary structure of xanthan gum is that the side chain is reversely wound around the backbone of the main chain, and the rod like double helix structure is formed by hydrogen bonding.
Xanthan gum is a light yellow to white flowable powder with a slight odor. It is soluble in cold and hot water, neutral, resistant to freezing and thawing, insoluble in ethanol. When it meets with water, it disperses and emulsifies into a stable hydrophilic viscous colloid.
The amount of pyruvate group at the end of the molecular side chain of xanthan gum has a great influence on its properties. Xanthan gum has the general properties of long-chain polymer, but it contains more functional groups than general polymer, and shows unique properties under specific conditions. Its conformations in aqueous solution are various and show different characteristics under different conditions.
