GÔM (GUM) ARABIC

Gum arabic

What is Gum arabic:

  Gum Acacia, also known as Gum Arabic, is a natural gum harvested from the exterior of Acacia trees in the form of dry, hard nodules up to 50 mm in diameter, and ranging from almost colourless to brown. Its unique properties endow it with a wide range of uses in food, beverage, pharmaceutical and industrial applications.

Gum  Arabic History:

The uses of Gum Acacia date back about 5000 years to the time of the ancient Egyptians, and it is the oldest and best known of all the natural gums. Among its many ancient applications, Gum Acacia was used as a binder in cosmetics and inks, and as an agent in the mummification process. Egyptian fleets shipped Gum Acacia as an article of commerce. Ancient inscriptions frequently refer to "KAMI", a form of Gum Acacia used as a pigment binder and adhesive in painting. It was eventually introduced to Europe through various Arabian ports acquiring the name "Gum Arabic" after its place of origin. During the middle Ages, Gum Acacia trade was carried on through ports controlled by theTurkish Empire, thus giving rise to the name "Turkey Gum". An export trade was also developed for a time around Bombay – thus, "East Indian" or "Indian Gum".

Sources of Gum Arabic:

It is a substance that is taken from two sub-Saharan species of the acacia tree, Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal. It is used primarily in the food industry as a stabilizer, but has had more varied uses in the past, including viscosity control in inks. Its E number is E-414.Gum arabic is a complex mixture of saccharides and glycoproteins, which gives it its most useful property: it is perfectly edible. Other substances have replaced it in situations where toxicity is not an issue, as the proportions of the various chemicals in gum arabic vary widely and make it unpredictable. Still, it remains an important ingredient in soft drink syrups, "hard" gummy candies like gumdrops, marshmallows, M & M's chocolate candies, and most notably, chewing gums. For artists it is the traditional binder used in watercolor paint, and is used in photography for gum printing. Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics also use the gum, and it is used as a binder in pyrotechnic compositions. It is an important ingredient in shoe polish. It is also used often as a lickable adhesive on postage stamps and cigarette papers. Printers employ it to stop oxidation of aluminum printing plates in the interval between processing of the plate and its use on a printing press.The substance is grown commercially throughout the Sahel from Senegal and Sudan to Somaliland.

 

Gum Arabic benefits:

·         Multifunctional: good emulsifier, film-former, texturizer and low-viscosity water binder and bulking agent.

·         High source of fiber: contains no less than 85% soluble dietary fiber (dry basis)

·         High percentage purity: no additives; free from sediment and impurities; has extremely low bacterial counts

·         Fast hydration and ease of dispersion: available in prehydrated or agglomerated form.

"Natural" labeling: Gum arabic is not chemically modified and qualifies for "natural" labeling or "no artificial additives

GUM ARABIC APPLICATIONS

Bakery	Gum Acacia is widely used in the baking industry for its low water absorption properties.The gum is cold water soluble and have impressive adhesive properties for use in glazes and toppings.
Beverages	The ability of the gum to stabilize foam is still used in the manufacture of beer and soft drinks. Gum Acacia is also used to clarify wine and fix tannins.
Confectionary	Used primarily to retard sugar crystallization and emulsify fat, the gum is used in a wide variety of confections. In high sugar pieces, the gum has been used in concentrations from 10 - 45%. Typically, the gum is dissolved in water, mixed with sugar, concentrated and finally, flavour is added. Used primarily to retard sugar crystallization and emulsify fat, the gum is used in a wide variety of confections. In high sugar pieces, the gum has been used in concentrations from 10 - 45%. Typically, the gum is dissolved in water, mixed with sugar, concentrated and finally, flavour is added.
Cosmetics	Gum Acacia functions as a stabilizer in lotions and screens. It increases viscosity, impart spreading properties, give a protective coating and smooth feel.
Dietary Fiber	Gum Acacias have widespread application in diet or meal-replacer drinks because of their low viscosity, bland flavor and high fiber content.
Flavours	Gum Acacia is used extensively in the production of spray dried flavors and fragrances. Also used to stabilize emulsions and when subsequently spray dried, the gum prevents evaporation and oxidative deterioration of the flavor/ fragrance oils or absorption of water from the air.
Industrial Applications	Gum Acacia works as a binder for color pigments in crayons. The list of uses goes on -- ink and pigment manufacture, ceramics, liquid insecticides, polishes, paints, etc.
Lithography	Gum Acacia is used in the preparation of etching and plating solutions in the lithography industry. The gum functions as a sensitizer for plates, as an ingredient in fountain solutions, plate wash and protective coatings for the plates in storage.
Pharmaceuticals	Gum Acacia have widespread usage as suspending agents, emulsifiers, adhesives and binders in tabletting and in demulcent syrups.

GUM PRODUCTION PHASES

1. GUM ACACIA VEGETATION Strangely, Gum Acacia is only produced by trees that are in an unhealthy condition. Gum yields are improved by natural factors that lessen the vitality of the trees – hot weather, poor soil, lack of moisture, etc. It is important to remember that a damaged tree will give a larger yield of gum. Thus, the natives will cut and strip the bark from a tree and return later to remove the tears of gum that form in the wounds or scars.

Within 3 - 8 weeks, the gum will start to collect in the wound, but this depends on the weather conditions. Gum droplets are about 0.75 - 3 inches in diameter, and they gradually dry and harden on exposure to the atmosphere. A young tree will yield 400 - 7000g annually.

The dry season lasts from October to June and the gum is collected every 10 days. During the rainy season no gum is formed since the trees are in full bloom. After collection, the gum is brought from the farms and stands to villages. From there it’s transported to market. In the Sudan, the gum is auctioned (under government supervision) and this usually sets the world price.

2. POST-HARVEST HANDELING  At present little cleaning or sorting is undertaken by the producer (collector) of the gum. Some degree of cleaning and sorting may be undertaken by small village traders to whom the producer sells his gum, but it is usually undertaken by the large traders after it has been sold and prior to selling it to the Gum Arabic Company (GAC). If the GAC buys the gum, it cleans and sorts at its own warehouses in the regional centres of the gum belt. On arrival at the GAC depot at Port Sudan, every consignment of GUM HASHAB is re-cleaned, sorted and graded in preparation for export. After collection, the gum is brought back to the villages, and when there is a sufficient quantity, it is transported to warehouses.

3. CLEANING PROCESS Prior to sale, there is a basic cleaning process. This cleaning process is labour intensive and includes such methods as: Crude sieving Hand selection Hand grading and picking of bark etc The main purpose of this cleaning process is the removal of sand, bark and any extraneous material.

4. GRADING PROCESS  The subsequent phase involves grading into the following grades/qualities of Sudanese gum on the basis of colour, clarity and cleanliness: Hand picked selected or HPS (selected sorts) - This ensure a pale uniform colour and freedom from extraneous material. Cleaned and sifted (cleaned sifted sort) - This is what is left after the hand picked selected is taken away and the siftings are removed. Cleaned (cleaned amber sorts) - This is the standard grade used throughout the world. Here, siftings are still present, but the dust is removed. Siftings - This is the material originated from the production of cleaned and sifted. It comprises of fine particles of gum with a proportion of fine bark and sand. Dust - This is produced from the cleaning process. It comprises of very fine particles of gum, sand and clay/earth. Different grading systems are used in other exporting countries, and although Sudanese production is more tightly controlled, good quality Nigerian or Chadian grades from reputable dealers can match Sudanese material.