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Mahesh

30/04/23 09:13 AM IST

Gum Arbaic

In News
  • Sudan’s eruption into conflict has left international consumer goods makers racing to shore up supplies of gum Arabic, one of the country’s most sought-after products and a key ingredient in everything from fizzy drinks to candy and cosmetics.
Gum Arabic
  • It is the natural gum exuded by various species of Acacia trees.
  • The main source of commercial gum Arabic is Acacia Senegal L.willd and Acacia seyal trees.
  • The trees are native to North Africa and grow mainly in the sub-Saharan or Sahel zone of Africa and also in Australia, India and South America.
  • It is found in some parts of India mainly in the dry rocky hills of southeast Punjab, in the northern Aravalli hills and other drier parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
  • Major producing countries: Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Nigeria and Sudan (market share of about 70%).
Properties
  • It is a neutral or slightly acidic salt of a complex polysaccharide containing calcium, magnesium, and potassium cations.
  • It is non-toxic, odourless, and has a bland taste and it does not affect the odour, colour or taste of the system in which it is used
  • It is somewhat yellowish in colour.
  • It is insoluble in oils and in most organic solvents, but usually dissolves completely in hot or cold water forming a clear, mucilaginous solution.
  • It yields L-arabinose, L-rhamnose, D-galactose and D-glucuronic acid after hydrolysis.
  • It is used in many industries like Food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics.
Source- Indian Express

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