EXTRACTION AND SOLUTION PROPERTIES OF THE GALACTOMANNAN FROM THE SEEDS OF CASSIA-JAVANICA L

The galactomannan from the seed of Cassia javanica L. was extracted in 26% yield and submitted to viscosity measurements. The intrinsic visc osity [eta] = 11.3 dl/g was determined at 25 degrees C and used to cal culate the viscosity average molecular weight, (M) over bar(v) = 1.5 x 10(6). Variation of the specific viscosity at zero shear rate as a fu nction of the coil overlap parameter revealed two critical concentrati ons, C = 0.54 and C** = 2.6 g/l, more frequently observed for rigid p olysaccharides.