Hydrogels, Latexes and Resins

I. Introduction

II. Examples

A. Hydrogels

1. Gums

-polysaccharides (many sugars) mixed with water to form a solid

a. Acacia senegal (Fabaceae) exudate from tree

-gum arabic

-stabilize foam in beer

-candy (prevent crystallization of sugar)

b. Cyamopsis tetragonolobus plant (Fabaceae)

-guar gum

paper stabilizer

-You name it!

2. Pectins

from apple pomace and citrus peels

-jams and jellies

3. Starches

polysaccharides (glucose)

-amylose

-amylopectin 

-in potato plant

cardboard (biodegradable)

B. Latexes

-laticifers (from Euphorbia stem)

-Hevea brasiliensis (Euphorbiaceae)

-latex harvest

-1839 Charles Goodyear (vulcanization)

C. Resins

-Manikara zapota (Sapoteceae)

-chicle

-Boswellia saera (Burseraceae)

-Frankincense

-Commiphora abyssinica (Burseraceae)

-myrrh

Egyptian embalming