The effect of chlorides on alginate gelation in the presence of calcium sulfate

Abstract

The preparation of the alginate-CaSO4-KCl/NH4Cl gel phases is described. Dispersion of calcium sulfate in solutions with a low chloride content is found to lead to the formation of homogeneous alginate gels. The dependences of mechanical and absorptive properties of the gels on the chloride concentration are studied, and a possibility of practical application of the compositions thus prepared is shown. The effect of the KCl and NH4Cl additives on gelation is explained by attainment of the optimal rate of CaSO4 dissolution, which favors uniform distribution of Ca2+ cations in the bulk of the arising gel structure.