[zach]

Hi,

For school I am creating calcium alginate hydrogels. It works great typically, but today I tried to add lactate to the sodium alginate mix (prior to dropping them into calcium chloride). It no longer forms a viscous solution or creates a gel when added to calcium chloride. Rather, it forms a very thin liquid and simply dissolves into calcium chloride.

Does anyone have an idea as to why this might be and how I might be able to remedy the situation?

Thanks!