GALACTOMANNAN FROM THE SEEDS OF MIMOSA-SCABRELLA - A SCALE-UP PROCESS

In view of the wide industrial applications of galactomannans as a thi ckening agent, those of Mir??osa scabrella (bracatinga), a leguminous tree abundant in Southern Brazil, are under investigation. Seeds of br acatinga were processed on a pilot plant scale in order to obtain its galactomannan. The process consisted of successive milling, enzyme ina ctivation, aqueous extraction, precipitation of polysaccharide, and dr ying and milling. The product was obtained in 20% yield, with characte ristics similar to those obtained on the laboratory scale, namely mann ose:galactose ratio (M:G) 1.1:1.0 and intrinsic viscosity. Considering the seed availability in the metropolitan regions of Curitiba, it sho uld be possible to obtain 3000 ton/year of this polysaccharide. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science B.V.