Guar gum is extracted from guar bean also known as Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba. The guar beans are principally grown in India where it accounts for 80% of global trade in guar products (Reuters report). Rajasthan in the north western part of India being the most important destination for guar gum processing.
Guar gum is basically a polysaccharide composed of the galactose and mannose. The backbone is a linear chain of β 1,4-linked mannose to which galactose are 1,6-linked at every second mannose, forming short side-branches.
Guar gum is used as emulsifier, thickener and stabilizer with wide range of industrial applications especially in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Guar gum is very economical in comparison to other thickening agents. It shows almost 8 times the water thickening properties than starch. Major Industrial Uses are as follows:
Guar Gum is widely used as Thickener, Stabilizer, Viscosifying agent in various Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Applications.
Guar gum gives a better colloid thereby reducing water losses. It regulates the viscosity of mud solution, stabilizes the flow properties of the drilling mud.
Guar Gum and its Derivatives are used in various Textile Applications including Sizing and Printing on various natural and synthetic fabrics including Cotton, Polyester, Nylon, Rayon, blended fabrics
Guar Gum and Oxidized Guar Gum are extensively used in making of Slurry Explosives. It is also used as a thickener and gelling agent for slurry explosive.
Guar Gum tends to improve Paper Strength and Evenness. It doesn't make odd smell, so widely used in making Cigrattee Paper and High Grade Paper.
There are various Industrial Applications of Guar Gum like in Mining, Paint, Polymer, Effluent Water Treatment, Ceramic, Mosquito Coils etc.
