Gum arabic - Binder for inks
Short definition of gum arabic
Gum arabic (synonym: gum arabic) is a resin obtained by tapping the trunks and branches of various acacia species. The trees in question are the so-called Seyal and Verek acacias (Acacia arabica, Acacia senegal, etc.), which are native to Africa, primarily in the Sahel belt.
Gum arabic was already known in ancient times and was used, for example, in ancient Egypt for mummification.
- 20g light crushed white powder
- vegetable from the resin of shrubs
- without decorative bowl
- the tubers show the raw state
Production of gum arabic
The tapping of the trees, which are at least ten years old, is done in a similar way as it is known from the extraction of rubber. One scores the bark of the tree in a downward pointing V-shaped angle. The drops that emerge are collected. They have a diameter of two to seven centimeters, about the size of a walnut. In the air, after three to eight weeks, hard bubbles of transparent, slightly brownish color form on the surface from them, which are dried and further processed after collection. Usually, every two days one sets another cut below the previous one. The tree takes up to four years to recover from this operation and until it can be tapped again.
Top quality in powder form
Countries of origin:
The lion's share of internationally produced and traded gum arabic comes from Central Africa. Here, south of the Sahara, a belt extends from the north of West Africa eastward to Sudan and Ethiopia, known as the "gum belt". Among African countries, Sudan acts as the main exporter. A smaller proportion of the gum arabic traded worldwide also comes from India and other countries.
Properties and Uses
In contrast to other types of gum, gum arabic is readily soluble in water - and at the same time has a low viscosity. This property makes it a natural all-rounder. It is also non-toxic, odorless and tasteless, which opens up a wide range of applications in the food industry. Gum arabic is traded as a food additive under the European approval number E 414. It is found, for example, in jelly sugar, gumdrops, cake icings and ice cream, as well as in glazes for confectionery products. Its adhesive effect is used in snack production to fix spices, herbs, etc. on the surface. Even more important is its use as a stabilizer, e.g. for beverages or beverage powders, cream stiffeners and cake frostings. In the pharmaceutical industry it is mainly used for glazing dragées, but also as a binder or emulsifier. In industry, it acts as a binder for color pigments in the production of coatings, paints and inks. In the printing industry, it serves as an antioxidant in offset printing. However, these specifications by no means exhaust the areas of application of this all-round talent, but rather only hint at them.
Why not use gum arabic as a carrier substance for essential oils or incense blends and let yourself be surprised!
Ink production
1. gall apples (50g) are boiled in 500ml water.
2. add ferrous sulfate II (can be bought in the pharmacy as a powder and use only under protective measures).
3. mix in the gum arabic (20g) as a binder. DONE !
This ink is initially only faintly colored, but oxidation with the oxygen in the air forms the very durable, varnish-like ink color, which darkens visibly until it is almost black. Please do not draw in fountain pens, but write ONLY with nibs (goose feathers) or reed (calamus).
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