Specification sheet
Gum arabic, E-414: Acacia senegal — hashab
PW-SPEC-GHA-01 · v1.0 · September 2026
1. Product & origin
The classic gum of the trade — the emulsifier the beverage and flavor industries specify. We ship it as Hand-Picked Selected, Cleaned & Sifted, Kibbled, and Mechanical Powder.
2. Specification
| Parameter | C&S | HPS | Kibbled | Mechanical Powder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Light to dark amber lumps | Pale white to pale amber nodules | White to yellowish fragments | White to yellowish-white powder |
| Particle size | 1 mm and above | Whole selected nodules | 0.5 to 8.0 mm | 125 / 250 / 500 µm |
| Acid-insoluble matter | 1.0 % max. | 0.5 % max. | 0.5 % max. | 0.5 % max. |
| Hydration | Slow; several hours under stirring | Moderate; continuous agitation | Rapid, non-clumping | Instant; lumps without high shear |
| Parameter | Specification | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical identity | 100 % A. senegal | JECFA monograph / USP identification |
| Color, solution, 20 % w/w† | Light amber | Visual |
| Odor; taste | None | Organoleptic |
| Moisture, loss on drying | 15.0 % max. | AOAC 925.45, gravimetric loss on drying |
| Total ash | 4.0 % max. | AOAC 923.03, muffle furnace calcination |
| Acid-insoluble ash | 0.5 % max. | Hot dilute extraction, gravimetric |
| Acid-insoluble matter | 1.0 % max. (C&S); 0.5 % max. (HPS, Kibbled, Powder) | Boiling gravimetric determination |
| Solution pH, 25 % w/w at 25 °C† | 4.1 to 4.8 | Potentiometric electrode |
| Viscosity, 25 % w/w at 20 °C† | 70 to 131 mPa·s | Brookfield LVT, spindle 1, 30 rpm |
| Specific optical rotation, [α]D25 | −26° to −34° | Polarimetry, 10 % w/w aqueous (levorotatory) |
| Nitrogen content | 0.27 to 0.39 % | Micro-Kjeldahl digestion |
| Total protein (N × 6.6)† | 1.8 to 2.4 % | Calculated from nitrogen |
| Soluble dietary fiber, dry basis† | 85 % min. | AOAC enzymatic-gravimetric |
| Starch or dextrin | Absent | Iodine colorimetric reaction |
| Tannin-bearing gums† | Absent | Ferric chloride identity test |
| Shelf life† | 4 years | Ambient dry storage, sealed in original packaging |
| Supplied against the JECFA monograph, EU specification E414, the Food Chemicals Codex and USP-NF. † Proseeds commercial specification rather than a compendial requirement. Viscosity in mPa·s (1 mPa·s = 1 cP). Each lot ships with its own certificate of analysis. | ||
| Parameter | Specification | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic (As) | 3 ppm max. | ICP-MS |
| Lead (Pb) | 2 ppm max. | ICP-MS / atomic absorption |
| Cadmium (Cd) | 1 ppm max. | ICP-MS |
| Mercury (Hg) | 1 ppm max. | Cold vapor AAS |
| Total viable count† | 10,000 cfu/g max. | ISO 4833, plate count agar |
| Yeast and mold† | 500 cfu/g max. | ISO 21527, DRBC agar |
| Salmonella spp.† | Absent in 25 g | ISO 6579, culture / PCR |
| Escherichia coli† | Absent in 1 g | ISO 16649, selective media |
3. Applications brief
In beverages and flavor houses hashab is the emulsifier and encapsulation wall that keeps citrus oils bright and spray-dried flavors stable. In confectionery it stops sugar crystallizing in gummies and pastilles and glazes pan-coated sweets; in pharma it binds tablets and steadies suspensions; in food it carries soluble fiber without changing taste or texture.
4. Packaging & storage
Packing: lumps 50 kg PP or kraft bags; kibbled and powder 25 kg lined kraft. Jumbo bags of 750 or 1000 kg are available for all forms except powder.
| Parameter | Lumps (HPS, C&S, Talha Cleaned, Siftings) | Kibbled and powder |
|---|---|---|
| Bag | 50 kg PP or kraft sacks with food-grade liner | 25 kg lined kraft sacks |
| Jumbo bags | 750 or 1000 kg | Kibbled 750 or 1000 kg; not for powder |
| Palletization | Shrink-wrapped on fumigated wooden pallets, or loose-loaded | Shrink-wrapped on fumigated wooden pallets |
| Container liner | Kraft paper liner with moisture-absorbing desiccant bags | Kraft paper liner with moisture-absorbing desiccant bags |
| Container load | Quoted per grade and bag format | Quoted per grade and bag format |
| Transport class | Non-hazardous; no UN number | Non-hazardous; no UN number |
Storage. Ambient dry storage, sealed in original packaging. Shelf life 4 years.
5. Documentation
Every export lot ships with a certificate of analysis; supporting records available on request.