- Locust bean gum
Locust bean gum (also known as carob gum, carob bean gum, carobin, E410) is a
galactomannan vegetablegum extracted from the seeds of theCarob tree . It is used as athickening agent andgelling agent infood technology . It is soluble in hot water. [Martin Chaplin: [http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/hyloc.html Locus bean gum] , London South Bank University, web page.]Locust Bean Gum occurs as a white to yellow-white powder. It consists chiefly of high molecular weight hydrocolloidal polysaccharide, composed of galactose and mannose units combined through glycosidic linkages, which maybe described chemically as galactomannan. It is dispersible in either hot or cold water, forming a sol having a pH between 5.4 and 7.0, which maybe converted to a gel by the addition of small amounts of sodium borate. Its main function is as a stabilizer and thickener.
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