Study of Catalyst of Citric Acid Crosslinking on Locust Bean Gum.

HCl, H2SO4, and potassium persulfate (PPS) were studied as catalysts of the process of citric acid (CA) crosslinking on locust bean gum (LBG). The copolymer (CA-c-LBG) obtained was characterized by its viscosity, pH, FTIR, NMR and SEM. It was found that the protonation of the hydroxyl groups at C6 atom of mannose and galactose in LBG and the hydrogen atoms of CA carboxylic group was accelerated. The best catalytic effect was obtained in presence of HCl.