Modified xanthan gum and method for modifying xanthan gum

摘要

A modified xanthan gum has a viscosity of not less than 800 cP as determined on a 0.5% by weight solution thereof in a 12% by weight aqueous sodium chloride solution at 20 DEG C. and a ratio of this viscosity to that determined on a 0.5% by weight solution thereof in distilled water of not less than 1.5. The modified xanthan gum can be prepared by a method comprising the steps of mixing an organic solvent which does not dissolve xanthan gum and is hydrophilic with an aqueous solution of xanthan gum in a mixer, cutting, into fine fibrous materials, deposites formed in the mixed solution together with the mixed solution with a cutter, separating and recovering the suspended fine fibrous materials from the mixed solution and then drying the materials at a temperature of not more than 80 DEG C. The modified xanthan gum can directly be dissolved in aqueous solutions of salts such as common salt even at room temperature and can thus easily show a desired effect of thickening the aqueous salt solutions.