Introduction
In the constantly evolving field of natural, sustainable ingredients, Pullulan stands out as a game-changer for industries ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to cosmetics. This water-soluble, eco-friendly polysaccharide offers unique functional properties, making it a sought-after additive for global partners aiming to innovate and meet consumer demand for clean, effective solutions. Let’s explore what Pullulan is, its multifaceted benefits, and its groundbreaking role in skincare.
What is Pullulan?
Pullulan is an extracellular water-soluble mucopolysaccharide similar to glucan and xanthan gum produced by the fermentation of the budding Aureobasidium pullulans. The molecular formula of pullulan (CAS 9057-02-7) is (C37H62O30)n.
Pullulan Benefits and Properties:
1. Non-toxic and safe
According to the results of acute, subacute, and chronic toxicity tests and mutagenicity tests of pullulan, even if the dosage of it reaches the limit of LD50, it will not cause any biological toxicity or abnormal state, so it is very safe to use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
2. Solubility
It can dissolve quickly in cold or warm water, and its dissolution rate is more than twice that of carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, polypropylene alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol, etc. The solution is neutral, non-ionized, non-gelled, and non-crystallized.
3. Stability
The molecules have a linear structure, so compared with other polysaccharides, the viscosity of pullulan aqueous solution is lower, and it will not form colloids. It is a neutral solution with strong adhesion.
4. Lubricity
It is a Newtonian fluid. Although it has low viscosity, it has excellent lubricity. It can be used as a thickener when used in food and is most suitable for products such as sauces and seasonings.
5. Adhesion and coagulation
It has strong adhesion and can be air-dried after spraying to stably adhere to food. It also has strong coagulation power and is most suitable for use as an adhesive when making tablets or granules.
6. Film-coating property
It has excellent film-coating properties and can be easily coated on the surface of food, metal, etc. At the same time, a water-soluble, five-color transparent, strong film can be formed from a pullulan aqueous solution. It has the characteristics of a gas barrier, aroma retention, oil resistance, and electrical insulation etc. It can be used on food to add gloss to the surface of food and preserve freshness.
7. Degradability
According to the results of in vivo enzyme digestion tests or rat growth tests, it is a kind of indigestible polysaccharide, similar to cellulose and agar. Pullulan is almost decomposed within a few hours under the action of digestive enzymes in the digestive tract of animals. The low digestibility of pullulan can be used to make special low-calorie foods and beverages. On the other hand, pullulan, like starch, begins to decompose when it reaches about 250 °C, and then is carbonized. It does not produce toxic gases and high heat when burned.
8. Improve physical properties and retain moisture
Adding a small amount of pullulan can improve physical properties and retain moisture. It can also improve taste and quality, prevent aging， and increase the yield rate.
9. Formability and spinning properties
Adding a certain amount of water to pullulan polysaccharide, heating, pressure molding, and spinning treatment can produce edible and water-soluble molded products or fibers.
Application of Pullulan
Pullulan is a safe and non-toxic white powder similar to starch. When dissolved in water, the solution is transparent but insoluble in organic solvents. It has good physical and chemical properties such as film-forming ability, plasticity, stability, and degradability. It is safe, non-toxic, nonimmunogenic, noncarcinogenic, and nonmutagenic in applications, and it has a wide range of uses in the fields of medicine, cosmetics, food, chemical industry, environmental protection, pesticides, etc.
1. In the food industry
It is elastic in structure, highly soluble, easily soluble in water, non-toxic, harmless, colorless, and tasteless, and has excellent film-forming properties. As a food additive, it is suitable for making candies and chocolate coatings and is a good thickener in ice cream production. It can be used alone or in combination. The results show that it has better effects, and the comprehensive evaluation of ice cream expansion rate, solubility resistance, slurry stability, etc., is high. It also has good pH applicability and freshness preservation in sauces.
2. In cosmetics
It has a good moisturizing effect, and its efficacy is comparable to that of hyaluronic acid. Compared with other polysaccharides, pullulan can be quickly dissolved in cold water, and the solution is stable for a long time, and is not easily affected by pH value or various salts, which is conducive to its use in different cosmetic formulas and has good compatibility. It does not cause any biological toxicity or abnormal state, so it is very safe and reliable to use in cosmetics. Pullulan masks can improve skin problems such as excessive oil on the face, large pores, blackheads, wrinkles, spots, etc., and the price is relatively low, making it an ideal cosmetic material.
3. In skincare
Aqueous solutions have excellent lubricity and can add smoothness and richness to skin care, hair care, and cleansing products, leaving a natural silicone-like after-feel on the skin.
It has film-forming properties that instantly and effectively lift the skin and tighten wrinkles. It can be made into easily soluble films and masks and is an effective and stable carrier for active ingredients, pigments, and fragrances.
It has excellent adhesive properties. It can be used to improve the adhesion of facial masks and hair styling products, as well as to enhance the adhesion of loose powder products.
4. In medicine
Since the properties of pullulan are similar to those of gelatin, it can be used as a raw material for the production of soft capsule shells. Pullulan has good sustained-release and controlled-release properties and can replace gelatin when formulated with cellulose.
The plant-based gelling agent pullulan is mainly used as a gelling agent for soft capsule shells. The capsules with pullulan as the shell have better disintegration time, oxidation of the contents, adhesion, and oil seepage after storage for a period of time than the soft capsules with gelatin as the shell gelling agent.
Suitable for drugs with strong hygroscopicity and sensitivity to moisture, pullulan hollow capsules have strong toughness, good elasticity, no weathering, non-animal origin, no potential risk of residual harmful substances or pollution in animals, and meet the needs of people with specific cultural beliefs and vegetarians.
5. Application in Industry
- For packaging materials and water treatment
The polysaccharide has excellent film-forming and fibrous properties, which can be used to produce paper without plant fibers. It has good water absorption, is easy to write and print, and is a good packaging material. Adding some ingredients can produce high-grade paper for special purposes, as well as packaging facial masks, etc.
As a flocculant, the special adsorption and electrochemical properties of pullulan polysaccharides enable them to undergo molecular bridging, adsorption, flocculation, and contraction precipitation under the action of coagulants. This feature makes it suitable as a purification agent for drinking water and industrial wastewater, removing suspended solids from water.
- Used as adhesives, coagulants, and protective films
It can be completely dissolved at any temperature and will not crystallize due to drying. As a re-moistening adhesive, it can be bonded and solidified without adding any chemical solvents, and it does not produce high temperatures and harmful gases when burned. It is widely used in agriculture, tobacco, printing, and other fields.
Where can you get Pullulan?
Runtai Chemical is a professional and reliable Chinese manufacturer of Pullulan with higher purity and lower price for 15 years. If you are interested in our product, feel free to contact us for free samples!
