Chemical Formula: C8H 14Cl2N202 (Xantham Gum)
The xanthan molecule consists of a 1-4 beta-linked D-glucopyranosyl backbone, as in cellulose.
Trisaccharide side chains composed of D-mannopyranosyl and D-glucopyranosyluronic acid residues are
attached to the chain.The 1-2 linked mannosyl residues have 6-o-acetyl substitutes. An average of about
half of the terminal groups of a-D-mannosyl have 4,6-o-(1-carboxyethylidene) substitutes.

The physical appearance of xanthan is a cream-colored powder that dissolves in hot or cold water
producing solutions of relatively high viscosity at low concentrations. The viscosity is high overa wide
range of concentrations and the solutions are stable overa wide range of pH, salt concentration and
temperatures. These characteristics are very favorable far the economy of operations where it is used as
a thickener.

In the O&G industry it is used as an additive far drilling fluids; Pseudoplasticity provides low viscosity in
the bit, where the cutting speed is high, and high viscosity at the angle where there is the lowest cutting
speed. This allows rapid penetration of the bit and at the same time keeps the removed particles in
suspension in the annulus.