Natural polysaccharides are important organic substances and expected to incorporate in functional materials. Xanthan gum, which is a water soluble polysaccharide produced by Xanthomonas campestris, is a useful food hydrocolloid. In this review article, the preparation of functional xanthan gum materials using an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl), is presented. Xanthan gum forms ion gels with BMIMCl by the simple and efficient procedure, which are further converted into hydrogels. These gels showed good mechanical properties, and interesting functions. The composite and binary hydrogels and films of xanthan gum with hydroxyapatite and cellulose are also fabricated through the ion gel formation. The partially carboxylated xanthan gum nanoparticles are obtained by regeneration from the solution in BMIMCl using ethanol. Derivatization and modification of xanthan gum are also conducted by appropriate procedures.

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