Sodium Alginate is a polymer of L-guluronic acid and D-mannuronic acid obtained from various brown algae, mainly Laminaria digitata.
This substance is very important to the algae,it allows them to withstand the stress they experience : osmotic stress, light stress, tightness, …
Sodium Alginate is very practical in food applications as it can provide all sorts of textures and consistencies, in savoury or sweets as well as in drinks.
It is particularity: it allows an irreversibly gelation at room temperature.