Investigation of gum production possibilities from locust bean (Ceratonia siliqua) seeds

In this research, locust bean gum produced from seeds of locust bean pods were supplied from Mersin region and some physical and chemical properties of obtained locust bean gums were analysed. Locust bean seed coats were removed by soaking seeds in solutions of various chemicals of different concentrations at 75 0C for 1 h. After removal of seed coats and washing only endosperm portions of the seeds was dried and ground in order to obtain the seed gum. Moisture, protein, ash, foreign matter, non-soluble matter in asid contents and viscosity measurements of obtained locust bean gums were determined. The results obtained that the differences between the moisture, protein, ash contents of the gums were not statistically significant whereas the differences between foreign matter, non-soluble matter in asid contents and viscosity measurements were significant. The highest foreign matter contents content (36,842 %) was belong to NaOH (30 %) treatment, the highest non-soluble matter in asid content (4,04 %) to NaOH (40 %) treatment and highest viscosity measurement (2,483 Pas) to HCl (30 %) treatment. Considering the whole results the used concentrations of NaOH less sufficient for removal of seed coats than HCl and H2SO4 treatments. H2SO4 treatment affected negatively gelling property of gum. According to these HCl treatment was established as a suitable process for gum production.