Isolation, Chemical Modification and Rheological Characterization of Leucaena Gum. Part I: Carboxymethylation

Leucaena gum was isolated from leucaena seeds and subjected to chemical modification via carboxymethylation under a variety of conditions. Variables studied include concentration of the etherifying agents and the preparation medium. It was found that the extent of carboxymethylation expressed as DS increases by increasing the concentration of the etherifying agents. Higher DS values were obtained in non‐aqueous medium. The carboxymethylated leucaena derivatives are cold water soluble and can be precipitated by ethanol. Their pastes are characterized by non‐Newtonian pseudoplastic behaviour regardless of the method of preparation or DS of the products. The apparent viscosity at various rates was thouroughly investigated. The effect of storing of these pastes on the rheological properties was also studied.