Xanthan Gum
a fully biodegradable ingredient
Xanthan Gum
kasel group offers state-of-the-art process, customized, and CO2-reduced Xanthan Gum production plants. In addition to engineering services, kasel group also acts as a trader and distributor of xanthan gum. Whether it’s chewing gum, toothpaste, ketchup, mayonnaise, jam, or ice cream, xanthan gum is found in many of our everyday food products. It functions as a thickening and gelling agent, a pharmaceutical excipient, and plays an increasingly important role in cosmetic formulations.
Xanthan gum is a naturally occurring, long-chain anionic polysaccharide (a complex sugar), first discovered by a research team from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the late 1950s and commercialized in the 1960s. It is produced by fermenting sugar-rich raw materials using the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. Simple sugars such as glucose, sucrose, or corn starch are converted into the more complex polysaccharide xanthan gum. After fermentation, the product is pasteurized, separated, and dried, resulting in a cream-white powder that dissolves well in water.
The name xanthan is derived from the genus Xanthomonas, used in the fermentation process. Xanthan increases the viscosity of liquids by swelling and forming highly viscous, gel-like structures, even at low concentrations.
| Application | Concentration (% w/w) | Functionality |
| Salad dressings | 0.1 ± 0.5 | Emulsion stabilizer; suspending agent, dispersant |
| Dry mixes | 0.05 ± 0.2 | Improves dispersion in hot or cold water |
| Syrups, toppings, relishes, sauces | 0.05 ± 0.2 | Thickener; heat stability; consistent viscosity |
| Beverages (fruit and non-fat dry milk) | 0.05 ± 0.2 | Stabilizer |
| Dairy products | 0.5 ± 0.2 | Stabilizer; viscosity control |
| Baked goods | 0.1 ± 0.4 | Stabilizer; improves pumpability |
| Frozen foods | 0.05 ± 0.2 | Enhances freeze – thaw stability |
| Pharmaceuticals (creams and suspensions) | 0.1 ± 1 | Emulsion stabilizer; dosage uniformity |
| Cosmetic (denture cleaners, shampoos, lotions) | 0.2 ± 1 | Thickener; stabilizer |
| Agriculture (additive in animal and pesticide formulations) increased cling | 0.03 ± 0.4 | Suspension stabilizer; improved feed sprayability |
| Textile printing and dyeing | 0.2 ± 0.5 | Rheology control; prevents dye migration |
| Ceramic glazes | 0.3 ± 0.5 | Prevents agglomeration during grinding |
| Slurry explosives | 0.3 ± 1.0 | Thickener; improves thermal stability (with guar gum) |
| Petroleum production | 0.1 ± 0.4 | Lubricant; reduces drill hole friction |
| Enhanced oil recovery | 0.05 ± 0.2 | Increases viscosity; reduces permeability |
Main industrial Applications
Xanthan gum is considered an environmentally responsible alternative across multiple industries, including food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and personal care. It has been extensively studied for safety and toxicology, and is classified as non-toxic, non-sensitizing, and non-irritating to skin and eyes.
• Approved by the U.S. FDA as a food additive with no specific usage limit (GRAS, Kennedy & Bradshaw, 1984).
• Approved by the European Economic Community as E-415 in 1980.
Its key advantages include emulsion stabilization, temperature tolerance, ingredient compatibility, and pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) rheology.
Beyond food, xanthan gum’s thickening, dispersing, and stabilizing properties are widely used in:
• Pharmaceuticals
• Cosmetics
• Agriculture
• Textile printing
• Ceramics
• Slurry explosives
• Rust removers
• Petroleum drilling fluids and enhanced oil recovery
Sustainability at kasel group
• Use renewable and sustainable raw materials
• Be energy-efficient
• Recycle wherever possible
• Reuse by-products and wastewater (e.g., for fertilizer production)
• Manufacture biodegradable xanthan gum
Global Xanthan Gum Market Outlook
• 2024 production: ~280,000 tonnes globally
• Forecast CAGR (2024–2029): >3 %
• Growth drivers:
o Increased demand for processed and convenience foods
o Rise in gluten-free and vegan product lines
o Consumer shift toward natural, clean-label ingredients
o Rebound in oil & gas exploration
o Expanding use in skincare, haircare, coatings, adhesives, and textiles
Market Segmentation by End-Use (2023)
• Oil & Gas : ~48% (Middle East countries import more than 50000 tons per year Xanthan gum, mostly industrial grade)
• Pharmaceuticals
• Cosmetics
• Others (Industrial applications)
Key Players in the Global Xanthan Gum Market
• Meihua Group Ltd.
• Deosen Biochemical Ltd.
• JM Huber Corporation
• Cargill
• Jungbunzlauer
• ADM
• Solvay S.A.
• DuPont
Xanthan Gum Production in China (2024)
Major facilities include:
• Deosen Biochemical (Ordos) Ltd. – ~35,000 tons/year
• Fufeng Group Limited – ~80,000 tons/year
• Meihua Group Limited – ~80,000 tons/year