Kachabo Gums

Introduction and Source:

Gum Arabic or Acacia is the dried, gummy exudate from the stems or branches of Acacia Senegal or of related species pruces of Acacia. The trees that produce commercial grade of gum Arabic grow primarily in the Sudan and Senegal regions of Africa. The trees are about 4.5-6 meters high and live about 25-30 years. Gum Arabic results from an infection of the trees, which yields the gum only when in an unhealthy condition. To accelerate exudation the bark is cut and the exudate allowed to dry, forming "tears" which are collected. Gum is collected by hand every 10 days during the dry season, which varies from October to June. The gum is graded visually buy sorting the lumps or tears basically into two grades: the clean amber sorts and hand picked selected gum.

Processing:

Strict standards for color and impurities has been set on every batch purchased by KACHABO GUMS. The bark is removed and sand or silica is sorted out by sifting, aspiration, and density-table separation. This is to insure the cleanest possible gum.In producing spray-dried gum, the gum solution is clarified by centrifugation, filtered, pasteurized in the case if enzyme inactivated gum, and then spray dried. The dried powder is screened to assure uniformity of particle size.

Physical characteristics
Gum Arabic tears, crystals, granules, and powders are almost odorless and tasteless. The color ranges from white to red. The lighter the color, the better the quality of gum.

Solubility:

Gum Arabic dissolves readily in hot or cold water. A 40% solution produces an excellent mucilage for adhesiveness. Aqueous solutions of over 50% concentrations may be prepared. Gum Arabic is insoluble in alcohol and most organic solvents. Solubility of gum Arabic decreases as the proportion of alcohol to water increases, becoming practically zero in 60% alcohol.

Viscosity:

Gum Arabic, unlike most other gums, is not normally used where swelling or thickening properties are required. Its viscosity increases slowly up to 25% concentrations and exhibits Newtonian behavior. Above 25% concentrations, the viscosity increases much more rapidly in proportion to gum content. A 30% solution is about 100 cps. At 40% and higher, Gum Arabic is pseudo-plastic as denoted by a decrease in viscosity with increasing shearing stress. Increasing temperature reduces viscosity considerably. The addition of salts or electrolytes affects the consistency of the solutions as well as does pH. Gum Arabic solutions become most viscous near pH 6 to 7. The actual viscosity of gum Arabic is highly influenced by such factors as the age of tree from which the gum was obtained, the rainfall in the gathering area, age of the gum after collection and drying, and the conditions under which it was stored.

Chemical Characteristics:

Gum Arabic is described as a complex calcium, magnesium, and potassium salt of Arabic acid. The molecular weight of gum Arabic is of the order of 250,000. It has a main backbone chain of (1 3) -linked D-galactopyranose units, some of which are substituted at the c-6 position with various side-chains. the side-chains consist of d-galactopyranose, D-glucuronic acid and L-arabofuranose with additional side-chains on the D-galactopyranose of L-rhamnopyranose. Powdered gum Arabic contains 15% maximum moisture and 0.5% maximum acid insoluble ash. Water solutions are slightly acidic and have pH of approximately 4.5 to 5.5.

Compatibility:

Gum Arabic is compatible with other plant hydrocolloids, protein carbohydrates, and starches. It  produces stable emulsions with most oils over a wide pH range. Electrolytes generally reduce the viscosity of gum Arabic solutions. Many salts, particularly trivalent metal salts give precipitates or heavy jellies. Specifically, gum Arabic is incompatible with borax, ferric chloride, lead acetate, mercurous chloride, and high percentages of alcohol.

Preservatives:

Gum Arabic solutions, like other plant hydrocolloids, are subject to bacterial attack and can be preserved by using 0.15 concentrations of sodium benzoate or benzoic acid. Methyl and propyl p-hydroxy-benzoate at a maximum of 0.17% and 0.03% concentration respectively are extremely effective preservatives.

Packing:

Double H.D.P.E. Bags Polythene liner insight or Jute Bags.
Custom packing is also available
Granular Gum :-   All the varieties
Powdered Gum :-   All the varieties
Spray Dried Gum :-   All the varieties
Clean Amber sorts:-  Hand pick selected
(other grades can be proceed to meet Individual specification)

The information contained herein is based on date believed by us to be reliable, and are intended for use by persons having technical skill, at their own discretion and risk. all recommendations or suggestions are made without guarantee, and we assume no liability expressed or implied in connection with their use. no statement herein or by our employees shall be construed to imply the nonexistence or any relevant patents, nor to constitute a permission, inducement, or recommendation to infringe said patents.