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.