The guar gum powder is a compound derived from the guar plant’s endosperm of the seed. The guar bean seed is dehusked, milled and refined to produce an off-white free flowing powder. The guar powder is a polysaccharide that is made up of galactose and mannose. These are held in a linear chain with the mannose backbone and galactose units attached at the each second mannose group.
The guar powder has certain properties, which have made it very important in industry. It has a higher solubility and stability than other products due to having more galactose molecules in its structure.
It also has high thickening potential or hydrating action thus a very efficient hardener as well as a gelling agent.
Contribution of the Guar Gum in the Manufacturing Industry
In paper making industry that uses wood as the raw material, hydrophobic wood resins tend to aggregate and become sticky on to the surfaces they come into contact with. This has presented a huge problem as these resins interfere with the performance of the machines leading to serious down times and loss of efficiency in the manufacturing process.
Various compounds have been used to overcome this challenge and the most effective has been the use of the guar gum powder, which acts as a natural stabilizer assisting in reducing the deposition of these natural resins.
This powder has a similar structure to the galactoglucomannans, which are the main hemicelluloses in wood. It thus mimics the action of the hemicelluloses and assists in amplifying the strength of the paper by enhancing the hydrogen bond among the fibers.
The oil drilling industry has a very high demand for the guar powder. This is due to its hydrating action, causing thickening of the fluids. The powder is used in the process of hydraulic fracturing as a thickener of the fracturing fluids.
This process involves pumping fluid at high pressure on to the oil and gas bearing rock. The rock develops cracks, which allow oil and gas to flow into the well. It thickens this fluid to enable it carry sand particles into these cracks to keep them open.
The ability of the guar powder to form a viscous substance in fresh water is one of the most important elements for oil drilling purposes. It is used as a viscosifier and an additive for controlling fluid loss in semi solid mud drilling.
Recent Research on the Uses of the Guar Gum Powder
With more research being done on the guar powder, new uses are coming up such as in the cosmetic industry as a thickening agent after being classified as a safe product for use.
Conclusion
The guar gum powder has been recognized as one of the most important products used in industry. This is due to its unique property as a fast hydrating agent, therefore having major uses as a thickener.
In the paper industry, it mimics the action of hemicelluloses present in wood, increasing the resulting strength of the paper. In oil drilling industry, it acts as a thickener of the oil fracturing fluids.
This article has been written by Biren Patel working at Agro Gums. Agro Gums is a guar and cassia gum manufacturing company offering high quality guar gum powder, fast hydration guar gum powder, cassia powder, guar splits and guar meal to satisfy the production requirements of various industries across the world.
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