The structure and dynamics of locust bean gum in aqueous solution

Locust bean gum (LBG) is an industrially important polysaccharide used widely in food, cosmetics, textiles, and biopharmaceutical applications, where understanding its solution behaviour for formulation design. To address this, we investigate the structure dynamics of LBG aqueous using steady state shear rheology, static light scattering (SLS), ultra-small-angle (USALS), dynamic (DLS). We find that rheology mainly probes well-dispersed fraction, whereas response dominated by supramolecular aggregates. identify three viscosity-concentration regimes (dilute, semidilute unentangled, entangled), with scaling largely consistent predictions neutral flexible polymers. SLS USALS provide evidence existence two separate populations aggregated structures, internal smaller aggregate population. The are a ‘slow’ decay mode, which Zimm attributed to relaxations within In dilute solutions, apparent viscosity associated this mode greater than viscosity, but converge as concentration increased. An additional ‘fast’ observed range, dispersed polymer cooperative diffusion. Our study provides comprehensive insight into solutions—paving way fundamental galactomannans solution, increased control over LBG-based formulations industrial interest.