Propylene Glycol Alginate Supplier South Africa

What Is Propylene Glycol Alginate?

Propylene glycol alginate (PGA) is an ester of alginic acid in which some of the carboxyl groups are esterified with propylene glycol. This modification imparts acid stability and improved emulsification properties not found in sodium alginate, making PGA functional at the low pH values typical of acidified feeds and stomach conditions. It is approved as food additive E405 and widely used in beverage, food, and aquafeed applications.

Aquafeed and Feed Binding

PGA is particularly valuable in aquafeed manufacturing as a water-stable binder. At inclusion rates of 0.5–2%, it dramatically improves pellet integrity in water, preventing nutrient leaching and maintaining pellet shape during the feeding period. The acid-stable nature of PGA means it retains binding capacity across the wide pH range of marine and freshwater aquaculture environments.

Emulsification and Thickening

As an emulsifier PGA stabilises oil-in-water emulsions in liquid feed supplements, improving fat distribution and reducing creaming in stored liquid premixes. Terracore Chemicals supplies food-grade PGA in 25 kg bags with variable viscosity grades for different application requirements, from low-viscosity liquid supplement grades to high-viscosity aquafeed pellet binders.