What Are Hydrocolloids?

October 31, 2024

Hydrocolloids are substances that either go into solution in water or ‘disperse’ or ‘wet’ in water. These substances have the special attribute of augmenting the visual appeal and the textural aspects of foods. They are also referred to as soluble gums. There are various types of hydrocolloids and most of them are in use, the use of hydrocolloids in foods is a major benefit that is recognizable. For example, hydrocolloids are added to many processed foods such as beverages and packaged yogurt.

Hydrocolloids in food industry serve the fundamental activity of increasing the appeal of the foods by making it possible to be formed into several forms, and enhancing the texture to achieve a preferred crispiness, hardness, viscosity, softness, stickiness, and so on.

The distinctive properties of hydrocolloids make them so versatile, such as gelling, emulsification, stabilization, dispersion, thickening, providing dietary fibers, foaming, crystal controlling, flavor enhancing, and water retention stabilizing.

In the food processing industry, Hydrocolloid uses are numerous. They feature regularly in food sectors like the minced meat production sector, hams production sector, meatballs production sector, noodle production sector, beverages, jams, and jelly production sectors, and in several other sectors and not restricted only to food processing sectors.

Types of Hydrocolloids

Hydrocolloids are primarily categorized into two key types: natural colloids which can be plant-based, animal-based, microbial, and more; and synthetic colloids which include sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose. The following are the main types of natural colloids:

Plant-based Colloids

Plant-based gums, which are some examples of hydrocolloids, include gum arabic, guar gum, locust bean gum, flaxseed gum, and konjac gum. These all have different chemical characteristics and arrangements, and for this reason, they are appropriate for many uses.

For example, gum arabic characterizes branched β-D-galactosyl chain molecules and polysaccharide units of repeating arabinose, glucuronic acid, and rhamnose, it is used in the food industry as a thickening and stabilizing agent.

Other seed gums include guar gum, locust bean gum, flaxseed gum, and others for food and non-food uses. Guar gum, for example, which is extracted from cyamopsis tetragonolobus seeds, and exists as a hydrocolloid powder that is yellowish-white in color, is used in applications where substances need to be thickened or where binding or emulsification properties are needed. This is a hydrophobic and biodegradable substance, and finds application in food packaging, especially because it is antimicrobial and has a lot of strength.

1. Algae Gums

Another kind of natural colloid is algae gums, which is an essential kind of colloid that comes from sea plants, the popular edible gums are agar, carrageenan, and alginates. Agar stands as one of the hydrocolloids with the highest levels of popularity and that is used for its action as a stabilizer, thickener, emulsifier, and gelling agent. This is composed of agarose and agaropectin is utilized as a filter clarifying agent in alcoholic drinks and for modifying the texture of dairy products and gelling in desserts, jams, and jellies.

Carrageenan, an extract from red seaweed is another widely used emulsifier, thickener, and stabilizer found in dairy products, commercial infant and pet foods, and manufactured meat products for purposes of preventing phase separation during storage. Other foods which contain edible films also incorporate carrageenan and it is also used in other coatings for shivering and perishable food commodities.

2. Microbial Gums

Xanthan gum and gellan gum are some of the highly used edible gums that are produced from microbial sources. In addition to xanthan and gellan gum, this category of gums comprises pullulan and dextran gum. These gums are all very important for use within the food industry.

For example, Xanthan gum, which occurs as a slimy extracellular polysaccharide, finds application as a leading thickener and stabilizer utilized in the food industry, as it neither alters the texture, flavor, color nor mouth feel of foods.

Obtained through the fermentation of Xanthomonas campestris, xanthan gum is fully biodegradable and compatible with numerous biopolymers for the fabrication of bio-based food packaging films. Pellulan on the other hand is an extracellular polysaccharide that is derived from fungal strains of different kinds and is used in the preparation of heat-sealant edible films which offer improved protection against oxygen and moisture, without affecting other aspects of packaging.

3. Animal-Based Gums

The animal-derived gums are chitin, chitosan, and gelatin, they are edible and can be used widely in the food industry. However, in these three sources, chitin and chitosan which are derived from the cell walls of animals like shrimp, crustaceans, and fungi are popularly used because of their better gelling properties. As for the fat binding capacity, and water binding capacity, it has varied to a certain extent, but they are individual in their properties of chitin and chitosan. For instance, for Chitosan WBC and FBC are 805/ 535 respectively while for Chitin are 673/ 320 respectively. The exact values depend upon the source from which these have been derived.

Synthetic Colloids

1. Carboxymethyl Cellulose

This hydrocolloid is a polymer that is soluble in water, derived from cellulose, and is useful for the ability to increase the solubility and thickening abilities of a solution. As such, it plays the role of a thickener, stabilizer, as well as and emulsifier in industrial applications for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics along with food-based uses.

2. Microcrystalline Cellulose

Extracted from the pulp of wood, microcrystalline cellulose is a refined type of cellulose, which acts as a bulking agent, stabilizer, and binder for applications in a range of processed foods as well as medical uses like the production of tablets and supplements. This synthetic colloid also plays an important role in modifying the texture and consistency of the various products, without altering the weight or caloric value.

How Does Hydrocolloid Work?

The function and working of hydrocolloids can vary based on the industry in which they are being utilized.

Food Industry

Within the food industry, hydrocolloids are an essential part of their ability to stabilize, thicken, improve texture, enhance appearance, emulsify, and perform other key functions.

Among the explanations why food hydrocolloids for health are consumed for various health purposes it in the ability to enhance the taste of the foods without a sight effect on the quality of the foods by reducing their caloric values in addition to the fat content of the assorted meals. Hydrocolloids are employed in manufacturing a whole group of packaged food products, but they are employed for making soups, dressings for salads, baked products, confectionery, and gravies in the day-to-day preparation of food and so become an essential component of food as a whole.

Medical Sector

The medical sector is one of those industries that benefit a lot and use hydrocolloids immensely. Hydrocolloids are versatile throughout this sector and are employed in uses such as in dressings, contact lenses, and drug delivery systems to mention but a few.

For example, Sodium Alginate is common in the manufacture of wound dressings since it has properties that help to form a moist environment which quickens healing.

In the same way, in drug administration programs hydrocolloids can be used when they get formulated to affect certain areas of the body with a high level of effectiveness They can be used to cure certain diseases. This is because hydrocolloids are a critical factor in tissue engineering in as much as the growth and development of tissues and cells especially in the 3D models that are built in investigation research.

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Hydrocolloids play an important role as excipients, binders, and controlled-release agents in dumb formulations. In these areas of implementation, one of the major roles of hydrocolloids is that they allow the active ingredients to be suitably distributed within the necessary concentration so that they dissolve well within the various drug delivery systems including the mouth. Additionally, the hydrocolloids themselves act as adhesives and since the articles are edible, they are nontoxic, and moist, characteristics that help the drug delivery system to cling firmly to the skin and also shield the components inside from other surrounding conditions which can certainly cause deterioration of the content in it.

Industrial Applications

Hydrocolloids have many other uses from the industrial point of view due to their very distinct properties for changing the flow of their products. Due to this property, hydrocolloids are applied in many industries including the paints and coatings industries, adhesive industries among others. In this respect, carboxymethylcellulose is the most used hydrocolloid among all types of thickening agents.

In the same way as paper, they are used; their versatility facilitates their use in different industries among which are the cosmetology industry and personal products. In these sectors, xanthan gum, alginates, and carrageenans are widely employed to enhance the finish of the final product and they are all far more appealing to the eye.

Conclusion

Hydrocolloids are important food additives that must be sourced from a reliable supplier， such as Mondstar. Their wide variety of hydrocolloids along with a global network ensures an uninterrupted supply of high-quality additives.