DETERMINATION OF THE PHYSICAL FUNCTIONALITY OF GALACTOMANNANS IN KAPPA-CARRAGEENAN GALACTOMANNAN MIXED SYSTEMS BY PERIODATE-OXIDATION/

Galactomannan samples of different origins (guar gum, tara gum, and lo cust-bean gums), with mannose-to-galactose (M/G) ratios from 1.7 to 4. 8, have been characterized. They exhibited strong differences with res pect to their molecular weight and their fine structure (M/G). The dif ferent locust-bean-gum samples differed significantly in this respect from each other. All galactomannans were submitted to periodate oxidat ion. The periodate oxidation of galactomannan samples was characterize d by the formic acid liberated. As expected, the formic acid liberated was directly related to the M/G ratios of galactomannan samples. Thus galactomannan periodate oxidation was shown to be a simple and precis e analytical method to predict the M/G ratio of galactomannan samples. It was demonstrated that galactomannan periodate oxidation, as a meas ure of the M/G ratio, can be directly related to the physical function ality of galactomannans in terms of synergistic interactions between t he kappa-carrageenan and the galactomannans.