Kinetic model for water/oil absorption of mesquite gum (Prosopis juliflora) and gum arabic (Acacia senegal)

The water and oil uptake of mesquite and arabic gums in powdered form was studied at temperatures of 23, 35 and 45 degrees C. A previously proposed equation to predict osmotic equilibrium was tested using the experimental data with both gums and a good statistical fit was obtained. Mesquite gum showed the highest water and oil absorption at all temperatures studied. Temperature dependence of the reciprocal of the S-l and WL(infinity) were determined using an Arrhenius equation. The activation energy for water and oil absorption for gum arabic was 21.98 and 39.57 kJ mol(-1), compared to that of mesquite gum having values of 15.79 and 46.16 kJ mol(-1), respectively. A second order kinetic model was obtained for water and oil absorption for both gums.