SUGAR COMPOUNDS, GELLING AGENTS, GELLING AGENT COMPOSITIONS, PROCESSES FOR THE PREPARATION OF THEM, AND GEL COMPOSITIONS
The invention provides a gelling agent comprising at least one sugar compound selected from the group consisting of sugar compounds represented by the formula (1) and sugar compounds represented by the formula (2). wherein R1and R2are the same or different and each represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a halogen atom, and p is 0 or 1. The gelling agent of the invention is very useful as a gelling agent for an aqueous medium.