Guar, Cassia, Tamarind, Fenugreek & Sesbania Gum – The Best Stabilizing & Emulsifying Agents for Industrial Use

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Ajit Patel

Natural Hydrocolloids and Their Aspects as Stabilizers & Emulsifiers

Emulsifying agents are added to liquid ingredients to stabilize the mixture. In the industries an emulsifying agent will ensure that oil and water, when combined, do not separate, but are distributed evenly in the mixture so as to prevent separation. A number of emulsifiers are natural products which are derived from plant tissue such as tamarind, guar, fenugreek, as well as cassia gum, which are all top emulsifying agents. Guar gum for instance is an emulsifier and stabilizer which is used in a wide range of foods as well as pharmaceuticals.

Emulsifiers and stabilizers perform much the same job. Stabilizers help to maintain the physico-chemical state of a foodstuff while emulsifiers form or maintain a homogeneous mixture of two or more liquids which cannot be mixed such as oil and water. Water and oil always try to re-create their natural surface tension,which can be prevented by the use of emulsifiers and stabilizers.

The Most Efficient Natural Gums Available

■Fenugreek has superior characteristics when you compare it to other gums. It is a legume and part of the Fabaceae plant family with tremendous medicinal and nutritional properties. Fenugreek gum with galactose has superior solubility and dispersiveness and forms stable colloid for a long time. Galactose is hydrophilic and mannan is hydrophobic, making fenugreek an emulsifier that mixes water and oil, increases viscosity, and forms aqueous colloids. Fenugreek galactomannan can be used as a stabilizer for food.

■Cassia for instance is a naturally occurring galactomannan derived from the endosperm of the senna obtusifolia, a wild plant which grows in India and which is used as a food additive as well as being a thickener gelling agent and stabilizer in many food applications. It undergoes rigorous purifying standards. Cassia gum can form gels with other colloids and is sought after for its use in the manufacture of pet foods, being used as a texturing agent and for moisture retention.

■Guar gum is also a versatile product with various applications like being a natural thickener, gelling agent, emulsifier, stabilizer, fracturing agent and binder. Guar gum, also known as a cluster bean or guaran and is also grown in India, with up to 1.25 million tons of guar being produced annually.

Fast hydrating, it is useful in the oil extraction industries. It is widely used for industrial use because it is so economical and also because it has a powerful water-thickening potency with only a small amount being needed for producing sufficient viscosity. It is widely used in industry as an emulsifier, being able to prevent oil droplets from coalescing.

The main use of guar gum is in top hole oil well drilling, and industrial grade guar gum powder is used in oil well stimulation, oil well fracturing and mud drilling. It is used for mud drilling, cementing slurries and cooling of drill bits where high viscosity and quick hydration is required. Other benefits of using guar gum is that it is safe to handle, it is bio-degradable and it hydrates quickly in cold water.

■Tamarind gum comes from the endosperm of the seed of the tamarind tree known as Tamarindus indica. It has application in various industries like the food industry where it is used as a stabilizer and emulsifier and is widely used in different kinds of flavoring for sauces and for the purpose of thickening and stabilizing. For more information about our company please visit: https://altrafine.com/about_us.html

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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Commercial Value & Aspects of Natural Gelling Agents – Guar, Cassia, Tamarind, Fenugreek & Sesbania Gum

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Ajit Patel

Natural Hydrocolloids as Gelling Agents

What are Gelling Agents?

Gelling agents are substances that are added to foods, and also non-food products such as pharmaceuticals, plant tissue culture, glues and cosmetic products. They are specifically added to food, to give it a shape and gel-like structure and feel. It is added to sweets, jams, jellies and even pastries. Gelling agents are used in a plethora of ways to manufacture more products than what people expect. Though each agent is different in structure and use, they all have some characteristics that are similar. They form clumps when added haphazardly, and should be used in concentrations of 0.5% to 10%. Most of them require 2-3 days to hydrate and reach maximum viscosity.

Industries and Applications of Gelling Agents:

The food industry is the biggest consumer of these substances. They use it in production of confectionaries, salads, juices, and spice mixes. It is also used in the pharmaceuticals industry to make capsules and even healthy drinks. The health industry also offers solutions such as increasing milk supply in lactating women and also in cases of low libido levels. The oil and gas industry, textile and even the agricultural industries use gelling agents.

Some of the most common natural gelling agents widely in use today are

• Guar Gum

This is a wild growing plant commonly found in India and Pakistan. Due to its biology which involves it’s very unique seeds. They contain a large endosperm and a protein rich germ with plenty of galactomannan which exhibits high hydrogen bonding capacity thus causing a great impact to the texture of fluids. This characteristic has led to the processing of guar gum as a gelling agent that is of help in the production of beverages and foods such as ice cream, cheese and other baked goods as gelling agents.

• Cassia Gum

Alone, it cannot be used as a gelling agent but can make gels with other colloids such as Carrageen and Xanthan ; thus used in production of gels in pet and food industry. Goma cassia as commonly known in Spanish, has high quantities of galactose and 75% polysaccharide which is very crucial in making gels.

• Tamarind Gum

This tree is also known as “asam” in Malaysia and Indonesia, also has a ton of other names in the many countries it is used. Its ripened fruit is used for making desserts as a jam, where it is a thickening and gelling agent. It is also used in juices, ice creams and sorbets.

• Fenugreek Gum

This semi-arid crop with small leaves is a great addition to the gelling agents’ class. This is high molecular weight polymer, used basically for flavoring and also sometimes for thickening or gelling agent in various food preparations. This galactomannan is basically made of galactose and is also combined along with mannan, a high molecular compound of mannose. This galactomannan has the required viscosity that enables to easily convert cocoa into chocolate, and milk into ice cream and hence is a good ingredient for use in frozen foods.

• Sesbania Gum

This China-originated plant has been used for making sesbania gum which forms a viscous fluid when added to water. The high characteristic viscosity of this product makes it a good gelling agent in waste water treatment, and in dyes. For more information about Sesbania Gum please visit: https://www.altrafine.com/sesbania-gum-powder.html

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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Sesbania Gum Powder – A Valuable Component in Oil Well Drilling Muds/Fluids

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Ajit Patel

One of the reasons sesbania gum has many applications is because it has many different valuable properties, which is the reason it is used in many areas. Indeed, it has been applied in food, textile and oil drilling industries. It forms a very viscous substance when mixed with water. Indeed, this viscous substance is 5 times more viscous than any substance formed when other gums are mixed with water. However, it cannot form a mixture with alcohol and organic solvents. Sesbania gum powder, like any other gum, is extracted from the goma sesbania seeds. It is one of the cheapest seeds to produce because it grows in alkaline soils.

Sesbania Gum - 1

Uses of Sesbania Gum Powder as Additive for Oil Well Drilling

Sesbania gum powder as an additive for drilling wells for oil extraction can increase productivity when it makes it easy to extract oil in the specific drilling conditions. Indeed, sesbania gum powder in oil drilling process acts as a blocking agent, resistant and reducing agent and is very useful in protecting water to mix with oil during drilling. Many-a-times it can also be used as a thickener to modify the flow properties of oil drilling mud. Here, using sesbania gum powder it is easier to control the mud during drilling, so that it cannot affect drilling processes. Sesbania gum powder for drilling acts as a track filler to allow fluid cracking leading to which has been applied in increasing productivity during oil drilling.

Other Applications of Sesbania Gum Powder other than Oil Drilling

Apart from oil well drilling, sesbania gum or the goma sesbania has been applied in various other industrial applications too. It is used in textile industry as a sizing agent where it can modify the dye absorption properties of yarn or fibers. It also acts as a thickener of dye, which helps textile materials maintain color during textile printing. In food industry, goma sesbania is used as an additive in baking. It helps in maintaining consistency of the dough, improving the leavening property and stabilizing the flour. In pet foods, it acts as a thickener. Goma sesbania has also been applied in water and wastewater treatment as a flocculent. In addition, it is used in incense sticks.

Conclusion

Sesbania gum has found wide applications in various industries. Recently, it is being used, instead of other gums such as guar gum and others in oil drilling and cracking. It can act as a blocking agent, resistant and reducing agent to prevent water from mixing with oil. Sesbania gum powder is used to modify flow properties of mud in oil drilling conditions. It has also been used to facilitate fluid cracking, which leads to increased productivity. Goma Sesbania can also be used in textile industry as a thickener of dye to facilitate dye maintenance on fabrics and yarns/material. It has also been applied as an additive and thickener in food industry, flocculant in water and waste water treatment and incense. It is also applied as a stabilizer in the food industry, for leavening, and maintaining the dough, when mixed with flour. For more information about sesbania gum powder please visit: https://www.altrafine.com/sesbania-gum-powder.html

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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Applications of Tamarind Gum Powder as Food & Pet Food Additive

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Ajit Patel

What is Tamarind Gum Powder?

Tamarind gum is a gum that is derived from the endosperm of the roasted seeds of the tamarind treeTamarindus Indica .The temperature conditions maintained for roasting the seeds are 130, 160, and 180 degrees. The tamarind seeds are about 1.6cm in length and 0.7 cm thick. The pods are 3-6 inches long with around eight seeds in each pod. It is used both as a stabilizer and emulsifier in the food industry.

Regions where it’s Highly Grown

Tamarind seeds are commonly grown in India Bangladesh, Shrilanka ,Burma and other parts of the world but are native to South India and Africa. The tamarind trees are evergreen trees that grow to a height of about four meters and bear fruits after 13 years with an average of 180 kg for a full grown tree.

Properties of Tamarind that make it useful to use in Food and Pet Food

Tamarind gum powder has specific properties that have made it be popular in the food and pet food industry some of which include:

Tamarind gum powder has sweet and acidic contents: it is best described as having a sweet and sour taste and is high in vitamins and acids .It is therefore used as a souring agent in preparing curries. It is also used for making sauces, syrups, and other food beverages. The acids are also anti oxidants which help protect the body from harmful radicals.

It contains polysaccharides which contain dietary fibers .The dietary fibers prevent constipation by augmenting the bowels. The fiber also binds toxins in the food which helps protect the colon from cancer-causing chemicals.

It contains vitamins including thiamin which help in enzyme metabolism inside the body.

Chemical Composition and Nutritional Value

The nutritional composition of tamarind seed which is the source of the gum powder consists of :

• 15.4% protein.

• 7.5% oil

• 8.2% crude fiber.

• 72.2 % non fiber carbohydrates

• 3.3% ash

Chemically, tamarind gum powder is a highly branched carbohydrate polymer ,consisting of D-glucose units that are joined with 1-4 linkages that are similar to that of cellulos. It also has a pH of 6.0

The exact distribution of branches along the main chain is still uncertain.

Uses of Tamarind Gum Powder in Food

Tamarind gum powder is used in food production industries and applies largely in making sauces, baked food meat product ketchups and instant noodles.

Also, tamarind pulp made from tamarind gum powder is used a souring agent in Indian curries due to its sugar and acidic contents.

The tamarind gum powder is also used in food preservation with or without acids and gelatinizes with sugar concentrates even in milk and cold water.

The Swahili people in southern Kenya use it for garnishing of legumes and for making juices. In Mexico, it is used to add flavor to rice.

It is also used as a stabilizer in ice creams, cheese and mayonnaise.

Uses of Tamarind Gum as Pet Food Additive

The tamarind gum powder has a high ability to control viscosities when added in solutions and therefore makes up for a great supplement to add in pet foods.

It is also a thickening agent. For this reason it is used in manufacture of canned pet foods.

Finally tamarind gum powder has great nutritional value and contains fibers which help in improving digestion in the pets. To know more about Pet food additive by view this video –

Making the Tamarind Gum Powder

The production process of tamarind powder starts with first cleaning the tamarind fruit to remove the seeds and dirt.

The fiber is then removed to the maximum extent possible.

Followed by the shredding of the pulp which then dried and mixed with starch to 20% level and then the mix is ground in a pin mill to form a coarse powder like mass.

The powder is then packed in pouches and cartons before distribution. It is used in a variety of food items like Chutneys, Sauces, rasams etc.

Future Market of Tamarind Gum Powder in Food Industry

Tamarind gum powder has high nutritional value that makes it popular in the food industry. Additionally, its chemical composition gives it incredible soluble properties that are widely used in the food industry. As well as being renowned as a souring agent in curries it is also used in making ketchup ,ice-cream etc all which are growing industries and as they grow then the demand for tamarind gum also keeps on growing.

The future of tamarind gum in the food industry is bound to keep growing as more and more companies embrace the nutritional value of the tamarind gum powder. For more information please visit: https://www.altrafine.com

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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Properties of Sesbania Gum Powder that makes it useful for Textile Industry

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Ajit Patel

What is Sesbania Gum Powder?

Sesbania gum powder is undoubtedly one of the most commonly used additive substance in the manufacturing industry more so the textile industry. Sesbania gum as well as sesbania gum powder is derived from the seeds of the sesbania plant which commonly grows in the regions of Asia, China as well as parts of Africa. The sesbania plant is a short annual plant that grows to a height of two metres and produces the sesbania seeds referred to as sesbania aculeate. The tough, short stemmed, fibrous, yellow flowered and purple spotted shrubs produce light brown sesbania seeds which are the main ingredients for Sesbania gum or goma sesbania in Spanish.

The process of making goma sesbania or gum powder from sesbania seeds involves harvesting the pods, sorting the sesbania seeds, roasting the kernels to separate the husks and the seeds, splitting the seeds to retrieve the endosperm from the germ ,milling and finally screening to come up with a creamy powder which when dissolved in water becomes a gum.

Properties of Sesbania Gum Powder That Make It Ideal for Textile Industry

• Goma sesbania or gum derived from sesbania beans is a pale white creamy powder that features the following properties:

• The additive is highly soluble in both cold as well as hot water hence making a suitable viscosity agent.

• Gum from sesbania beans has wide temperature variations which make it flexible to use in different textile processes.

• The textile additive is insoluble in many inorganic solvents such as alcohol, ethers, ketones and other organic solvents consequently making the gum powder salt and brine resistant.

• Sesbania gum powder for textiles has a high viscosity which is 5 to 10 times stronger than most commonly used gum or gelling compounds. This is attributed to its high pH range of between 6 and 11.

• The gum from sesbania seeds has good stabilizing properties due to it being a galactomannan polysaccharide with a minimum viscosity of 2000-2500cps and a maximum of 3000-3500cps.

• Gum from the sesbania seeds has good gelling properties credited to a low moisture content of 12% as well as its pseudoplastic film forming properties.

Applications of Sesbania Gum Powder in Textile Industry

Sesbania gum powder for textiles is used in various processes in the industrial sector with the following being most notable:

• Sesbania gum powder is used as a sizing agent with the aim of making the fabric stronger, smoother and adheres to dyes without the colors running.

• The salt and brine resistant properties of sesbania gum make the process of bleaching and refining the final fabric easier and convenient since the solutions will not harm the textile material.

• Gum from the sesbania seeds is used as a dye thickener in the textile industry thus allowing the dyes or stains to adhere better to the fabric without running or blotting. For more information please visit: https://www.altrafine.com/sesbania-gum-powder.html

Conclusion

Latest statistics show a growing trend in regard to the use of sesbania gum powder for textiles; this is pegged on the technological revolution that is leading to growth in textile industries both locally, regionally as well as globally. In order to ensure that the current as well as future demands are met, it is highly advisable to empower the cultivation of sesbania plant to boost production.

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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Applications of Oiled & Deoiled Tamarind Kernel Powder for Textile & Pharmaceutical Industries

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Ajit Patel

Tamarind Gum Powder

Tamarind gum powder is derived from the seeds of a tree called Tamarindus indica linn, more specifically, the endosperm of the seeds. Tamarind gum powder has been applied in many industries, including pharmaceutical, textile and food industry, owing to its properties as an emulsifier, and its ability to form a gel or solution in water or change viscosity of a liquid (thickener). There are basically two different grades of tamarind gum powder which are used in specific industrial applications like pet food, cattle feed, textile and pharmaceutical industries. These are oiled tamarind kernel powder and the de-oiled tamarind kernel powder.

The oiled tamarind kernel powder is the best product for use in textile applications while the de-oiled product is used to feed pets & cattle and is valuable product for pharmaceutical applications as well.

Oiled Tamarind Kernel Powder for Textile Industries

Tamarind kernel powder containing the oil content in it is a suitable product for use in textile industries. It has got unmatched thickening property and hence is used as thickening agent for better fabric production processes in textile industries. Textile sizing is the main application where this oiled tamarind kernel is employed. It has unmatched penetration and fiber forming characteristics which make it an an important component for use in sizing of textile fabrics. The product is basically soluble in hot water as compared to other gums like guar which can rapidly dissolve in cold water. It is easily dispersible in water and expansively swells in the boiling water. Upon cooling, this can be employed used for textile printing on fabrics with disperse, cationic and acid dyes. Tamarind kernel powder can produce excellently bright and levelled shades on fabrics. Hence it has valuable applications in textile sizing, dyeing and printing applications.

Uses of Tamarind Gum Powder in Pharmaceutical Industry

Tamarind gum powder used for pharmaceuticals is the deoiled product obtained after the oil extraction. The de-oiled flakes obtained after oil extraction are grinded to obtained the deoiled tamarind kernel powder which is a valuable product used for manufacture of drugs and tablets because it can improve dissolution of the medicinal products that are of poor solubility in water. Tamarind gum powder for pharmaceutical acts as a thickener too. It has been applied in the manufacture of bioadhesive tablets, and it was noted that lactoferrin tablets that contained tamarind gum powder or goma tamarind could stay longer in the oral cavity compared to those containing xanthan gum.

Conclusion

Tamarind gum has found diverse applications because of its diverse properties and is used oiled and deoiled forms. Tamarind gum powder for pharmaceutical is used to improve dissolution of components that are poorly soluble in water, in the manufacture of tablets. It has also been found that lactoferrin tablets containing the gum can stay for longer in the oral cavity. It is also used as an emulsifier and thickener. When used in textile industry tamarind gum gives excellent sizing and dyeing applications because of its valuable properties. It is soluble in hot water and produce shades on fabrics and hence is an important component for textile printing processes as well. Hence tamarind kernel powder has got various applications in textile and pharmaceutical industries but when used in different forms as the oiled and the deoiled product.

For more information please visit: https://www.altrafine.com/tamarind_kernel_powder.html

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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Guar Gum – India’s Second Largest Agricultural Export Product in year 2013

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Ajit Patel

Guar Gum Production in Relation to Other Main Export Crops

Latest statistics indicate that guar gum continues to enjoy an impressive growth in regard to annual production as well as increased exports. Figures from Director-General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) show that Guar gum which has been regarded as India’s second largest agricultural export has overtaken the main export crops which is rice (both basmati and non-basmati rice). Data from DGCI&S shows that Guar gum exports account for 18% of India’s total farm exports which are valued at Rs 120,000 crore up from 7% as at 2010-11. In the period 2012-13 goma guar exports stood at $4.9billion, followed by basmati rice at $ 2.6billion and third came cotton at $2.6billion with the main export which is a non crop being plastic and linoleum at 5.0 billion.

Reasons behind Upsurge in Guar Gum Export and Its Prices

In the period 2012 prices for guar gum powder increased by 900-1000% with the prices shooting up to Rs 100,000 per quintal of gomme de guar or guar gum with the seeds fetching Rs 35000 up from Rs 3000.This resulted to a 374% increase in exports but declined to 139% in the following period 2012-13.The increase in the export as well as the price was due to speculation of their being a drought hence the oil and drilling multinationals especially from the US stocking up to mitigate any imminent occurrence.

Future Growth Prospects of Guar Gum Market in India

India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of guar gum and guar gum powder in the world, with annual exports recorded at approximately 1-1.5 million tonnes. 80% of goma guar is used in Oil and gas drilling with the United States being the main market with an annual 40,000 tonnes of guar gummi(gum from guar). The growth path of guar is most prolific of all India’s export with an average growth rate of 21% according to the Government’s Union budget 2013. Figures from DGCI&S indicated a surge in basmati rice at 71% with the market share of non-basmati rice rising from 0.52% to 12% between the periods of 2010-11 and 2012-13.

According to Times of India publications (TOI) there has been a general improvement in the living standards in Guar growing regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh among others. However, there is also an increase in competition from competitor countries with the main rival being Pakistan; other exporting countries of guarkernmehl or gum from guar include Australia and some parts of Africa. The US will still play an integral role in boosting demand for guar gum powder as well as goma guar due to the drive to attain oil self sufficiency which might go on for about 15-20 years according to International Institute of Strategic Studies(IISS). However, the drive for renewable energy might adversely impact the demand for guar gum as well as guar gum powder hence the need to foster exports to other regions such as Spain, German, France, Brazil, Sweden and United Kingdom among many other countries. All said and done, guarkernmehl, guar gummi, gomme de guar or simply guar gum will still continue to play a central role in regard to India’s crop exports. For more information please visit: https://www.altrafine.com

This Article has been written & posted by Ajit Patel.

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