Introduction to Xanthan Gum

 Xanthan gum, also known as xanthan gum, xanthan gum, and xanthomonas polysaccharide, is a monospore polysaccharide produced by the fermentation of Pseudoxanthomonas.

Features

 Xanthan gum is currently an international product that integrates thickening, suspension, emulsification and stabilization. The most superior biological glue. The number of pyruvate groups at the molecular side chain end of xanthan gum has a great influence on its performance. Xanthan gum has the general properties of long-chain polymers, but it contains more functional groups than ordinary polymers, and it will show unique properties under specific conditions. Its conformation in aqueous solution is diverse and exhibits different properties under different conditions.

1. Suspending and emulsifying properties

Xanthan gum has a good suspending effect on insoluble solids and oil droplets. Xanthan gum sol molecules can form super-bonded ribbon-shaped helical copolymers to form a fragile glue-like network structure, so they can support the shape of solid particles, liquid droplets and air bubbles, showing strong emulsification stability and high suspension ability.

2. Good water solubility

Xanthan gum can quickly dissolve in water and has good water solubility. In particular, it can be dissolved in cold water, which can save complicated processing and is convenient to use. However, due to its strong hydrophilicity, if water is directly added and the stirring is insufficient, the outer layer absorbs water and swells into micelles, which will prevent water from entering the inner layer, thereby affecting the function, so care must be taken when using it correctly. Xanthan gum dry powder or mixed with dry powder auxiliary materials such as salt and sugar, then slowly added to the stirring water to make a solution for use.

3. Thickening

Xanthan gum solution has the characteristics of low concentration and high viscosity (the viscosity of 1% aqueous solution is equivalent to 100 times that of gelatin), and it is an efficient thickener.

4. Pseudoplasticity

Xanthan gum aqueous solution has high viscosity under static or low shearing action, and the viscosity drops sharply under high shearing action, but the molecular structure remains unchanged. And when the shear force is removed, the original viscosity will be restored immediately. The relationship between shear force and viscosity is completely plastic. The pseudoplasticity of xanthan gum is very prominent, and this pseudoplasticity is extremely effective for stabilizing suspensions and emulsions.

5. Thermal stability

The viscosity of xanthan gum solution will not change greatly with the change of temperature. The viscosity of general polysaccharides will change due to heating, but the viscosity of xanthan gum solution will hardly change between 10-80 °C, even at low concentrations. The aqueous solution still shows a stable high viscosity in a wide temperature range. 1% xanthan gum solution (containing 1% potassium chloride) was heated from 25°C to 120°C. Its viscosity is only reduced by 3%.

6. Stability to acid and alkali

Xanthan gum solution is very stable to acid and alkali, its viscosity is not affected when the pH is between 5 and 10, and the viscosity changes slightly when the pH is less than 4 and greater than 11. In the range of PH3-11, the difference between the maximum and minimum viscosity is less than 10%. Xanthan gum can be dissolved in various acid solutions, such as 5% sulfuric acid, 5% nitric acid, 5% acetic acid, 10% hydrochloric acid and 25% phosphoric acid, and these xanthan gum acid solutions are quite stable at room temperature. The quality of the pieces has not changed for several months. Xanthan gum is also soluble in sodium hydroxide solution and has thickening properties. The resulting solution is quite stable at room temperature. Xanthan gum can be degraded by strong oxidants, such as perchloric acid and persulfuric acid, and the degradation is accelerated as the temperature rises.

(Industrial grade) Xanthan gum can provide excellent rheological properties for your various drilling, completion or other muds, and is especially suitable for applications in areas where environmental protection is important.