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Locust Bean Gum
Images : Locust Bean Gum
General Description
Locust bean gum LBG, also known as carob gum, carob bean gum, carobin, E410 is a galactomannan vegetable gum extracted from the seeds of the Carob tree. It is used as a thickening agent and gelling agent in food technology. It is soluble in hot water.
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 may be 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 may be converted to a gel by the addition of small amounts of sodium borate. Its main function is as a stabilizer and thickener.
Locust Bean Gum is produced from Carob pods. The pods are kibbled to separate the seed from the pulp. The seeds have their skins removed by either an acid treatment. The deskinned seed is then split and gently milled. This causes the brittle germ to break up while not affecting the more robust endosperm. The two are separated by sieving. The separated endosperm can then be milled by a roller operation to produce the final Locust Bean Gum powder.


