The present work investigates the calcium-induced gelation behavior and gel properties of alginate samples of lithium-, sodium-, and potassium-forms. It was found that the effect of the alkali metal counterions varied greatly with the calcium concentration regime, namely, the molar ratio of calcium to guluronate (R = Ca/G). Four different regions were identified, including R < 0.25, 0.25 < R < 0.55, 0.55 < R < 1.0, and R > 1.0. The counterion dependence was interpreted by the relative interaction strength of the monovalent cations with COO⁻ groups and their exchange reaction with Ca²⁺ ions. A mechanistic model depicting the role of counterions was proposed in relation to different steps of the binding and gelation of alginate with calcium. The knowledge gained in the study would further advance the understanding of the gelation mechanism of the industrially important alginate and guide its specific utilizations.

目前的工作研究了锂、钠和钾形式的藻酸盐样品的钙诱导凝胶行为和凝胶特性。发现碱金属抗衡离子的影响随钙浓度范围变化很​​大，即钙与古洛糖醛酸盐的摩尔比（R  = Ca / G）。确定了四个不同的区域，包括R  < 0.25、0.25 <  R  < 0.55、0.55 <  R  < 1.0 和R  > 1.0。通过单价阳离子与 COO ^{-基团的相对相互作用强度及其与 Ca 2+}的交换反应来解释抗衡离子依赖性离子。提出了一个描述反离子作用的机械模型，该模型与藻酸盐与钙的结合和凝胶化的不同步骤有关。该研究中获得的知识将进一步促进对工业上重要的海藻酸盐凝胶机制的理解并指导其具体利用。