Rheological study of gum arabic solutions: Interpretation based on molecular self-association

This study deals with the rheological properties of aqueous solutions of gum arabic, the complex arabinogalactan polysaccharide containing about 2% protein. The flow behavior of control gum and a matured gum (EM2), which have different molecular associations, was investigated at different concentrations in water and added urea (6M) by rheological and dynamic light scattering methods. The influence of molecular association on rheological behavior of gum arabic solutions was studied. It was found that though Newtonian behavior was observed across a wide range of concentrations and at high shear rates, gum arabic solutions showed a pronounced shear thinning in low shear rate ranges. The maximum difference in viscosity between shear rate increasing and decreasing processes was observed at 6% for both control gum and EM2 in water, and at 3% for control gum and 9% for EM2 in urea solutions. The results demonstrated macromolecular association of gum arabic occurring in the solutions, and the observed time-dependent flow behavior reflected microstructural breakdown and re-building in the systems. This phenomenon was understood in view of the relationship between rheological properties and microstructural characteristics. A model was presented to interpret the rheological behavior, which is attributed to the occurrence of shear-induced breakdown and re-formation of gum arabic aggregates.