Abstract

EVALUATION THE EFFECT OF PROCESSING OF ACACIA SENEGAL GUM ON ITS PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES

Bassam Abualsoud*, Mohammad E. Shayoub and Zuheir A. Osman

ABSTRACT

Gum arabic obtained from Acacia senegal, var. senegal is considered the oldest and best known of all natural gums . It is known as an important article of commerce for about 4000 years ago. It possesses physicochemical characteristics and functional properties that make it unique in the international trade of food, pharmaceutical, textile, and other industries. This gum is produced from the stems and branches of Acacia senegal tree by a biosynthesis process called gummosis. Gum collection can be done by simple gathering of nodules that have oozed from the tree. Sudan classifies acacia Senegal gum into different grades. The crude exudates of acacia Senegal are processed differently according to the quality finally required for it to be marketed. The quality and applicability of well characterized materials are directly related to their physical and chemical properties. In this study physicochemical property of five grades - two crude gum and three processed gums - of acacia Senegal have been evaluated to find if processing affect these properties. The results revealed that processing of acacia Senegal gum improves its purity and without affecting its chemical composition and functional properties.

Keywords: acacia Senegal, Arabic gum, physicochemical properties, functional properties, raw gum, gum processing.