Sodium alginate

The chemical compound sodium alginate is the sodium salt of alginic acid. Its empirical chemical formula is NaC₆H₇O₆. Its form as a gum, when extracted from the cell walls of brown algae, is used by the foods industry to increase viscosity and as an emulsifier. It is also used in indigestion tablets and the preparation of dental impressions. Sodium alginate has no discernible flavor.

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Another major use of sodium alginate is reactive dye printing, where it is used in the textile industry.

Radioactivity within the body

Sodium alginate is a good chelator for pulling radioactive toxins such as iodine-131 and strontium-90 from the body which have taken the place of their non-radioactive counterparts.^[1][2]

Sodium alginate is also used in immobilizing enzymes by inclusion.

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