The effect of chlorides on alginate gelation in the presence of calcium sulfate

The preparation of the alginate-CaSO₄-KCl/NH₄Cl gel phases is described. Dispersion of calcium sulfate in solutions with a low chloride content is found to lead to the formation of homogeneous alginate gels. The dependences of mechanical and absorptive properties of the gels on the chloride concentration are studied, and a possibility of practical application of the compositions thus prepared is shown. The effect of the KCl and NH₄Cl additives on gelation is explained by attainment of the optimal rate of CaSO₄ dissolution, which favors uniform distribution of Ca²⁺ cations in the bulk of the arising gel structure.