Agar Agar CAS#9002-18-0
Excellent Gelling Property: Agar agar features powerful thermo-reversible gelling capacity. Its aqueous solution forms firm gel after cooling, and the gel will melt again when heated above gel melting temperature. It generates gel at a very low dosage and delivers stable gel texture.
Good Thermal Stability: Agar gel shows strong heat resistance and stable performance in a mild pH range from 4.5 to 9.0. Excessively acidic environment under heating will cause hydrolysis and weaken gel strength.
Special Solubility: Insoluble in cold water but can swell and absorb plenty of cold water; freely soluble in boiling water, forming a transparent viscous solution.
Low Digestibility: It cannot be digested by human digestive enzymes, serving as dietary fiber and bringing no extra calorie intake.
Agar agar, also named agar, is a hydrophilic colloid extracted from marine red algae such as Gracilaria and Gelidium. It is mainly composed of agarose and agaropectin. It appears as white or light yellow powder or strips, odorless or with slight seaweed odour. The gel formed by agar is rigid, elastic and transparent, without syneresis easily. It has good compatibility with sugar, milk and most food raw materials. It is widely recognized as safe food additive globally.
| Agar Agar Chemical Properties | Parameters |
|---|---|
| Melting point | 85–95 °C (gel melting) |
| Gelling Temperature | 32–43 °C |
| Density | 1.5–2.0 g/cm³ |
| Storage temp | Store below +30°C, sealed dry |
| Solubility | Insoluble in cold water, soluble in boiling water; insoluble in ethanol and organic solvents |
| Form | Powder / strip |
| Color | White to pale yellow |
| Odor | Odorless or slight seaweed odor |
| pH (1.5% solution) | 6.0–8.0 |
| Moisture | ≤20% |
| Ash Content | ≤6.5% |
| Stability | Stable under dry condition; easy to degrade under strong acid and high temperature |
| EINECS | 232-658-1 |
| MDL Number | MFCD00081284 |
| CAS DataBase Reference | 9002-18-0 |
| NIST Chemistry Reference | Agar (9002-18-0) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Agar, algae extract |
| Safety Information | Content |
|---|---|
| Hazard Codes | Non-hazardous substance |
| Safety Statements | Avoid dust inhalation |
| WGK Germany | 1 |
| RTECS | Not available |
| TSCA | Listed |
| HS Code | 13023100 |
| Approved Standard | FCC, JECFA, EP, GB2760 |
| ADI Value | Not specified (unlimited for food use) |
This compound is widely used as gelling agent, thickener and stabilizer in confectionery, jelly, pudding, bakery decoration, dairy products and canned food. It is also commonly applied in microbiology culture medium, cosmetic thickening system, pharmaceutical excipients and biological research. It is a preferred gelling agent requiring low dosage and high gel hardness.
