It is white to light yellow fibrous or granular powder, almost odorless and tasteless, soluble in water and forms sticky solution while insoluble in ethanol, water with ethanol content more than 30%, chloroform, ethyl ether and acid solutions with PH value less than 3.

It can be used as emulsifier and softener in gum-based candies, as well as thickener, stabilizer, pigment diluent and gelling agent.

It is also used in dressing, jam, jelly, grease, gelatin pudding and sweet sauce, etc.

Other uses: It acts as dispersant, printing paste for textile printing, thickener for cosmetics.