Sodium alginate is widely used in the food industry as a thickening, gelling, and stabilizing agent. It is commonly found in products like ice cream, yogurt, and salad dressings to improve texture and prevent separation. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is utilized in drug delivery systems, particularly for controlled-release tablets and wound dressings due to its biocompatibility and gel-forming properties. Additionally, sodium alginate is employed in the textile industry for printing and dyeing fabrics, as well as in water treatment processes to remove heavy metals and other contaminants. Its ability to form gels in the presence of calcium ions makes it a key ingredient in molecular gastronomy for creating unique culinary textures like spherification.