Polysaccharide gums of industrial importance: A review

摘要

Carbohydrates rank first as best possible and highly renewable raw material alternatives for gradually depleting petroleum in industries. Polysaccharide gums, the hydrocolloids of commerce, are abundantly present in plants, seaweeds and microbial sources. They perform diversified structural and metabolic functions. In their native as well as modified forms, polysaccharides are being used increasingly in many food and non- food industries. In view of the rapidly changing urban life style due to socio-economic and industrial growth, there is a very timely need for the production of different polysaccharide gums and their derivatives.