Detailed Explanation of Peach Gum Harvesting and Processing Methods
The gum secreted from the trunks of peach, plum, apricot, and cherry trees is called peach gum. Peach gum is a translucent polysaccharide substance with a wide range of uses. In the textile industry, it is used as an acid printing paste; in flower drum engraving, it is used as a protective gum agent; in the printing industry, it is used as a gold powder adhesive; it can also be used as food, medicine, and paper adhesive, and can replace imported gum arabic. The harvesting and processing methods of peach gum are introduced here.
1. Harvesting: Harvest peach gum during the growing season of peach, plum, apricot, and cherry trees. Use a small knife to shave off the gummy substance on the trunks of the above tree species, place it in the sun to dry, and it becomes the raw material of peach gum. When harvesting peach gum, do not damage the bark.
2. Impurity removal: Soak the harvested dried peach gum raw material in water (solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:2). After the raw material swells, tear it into small pieces, remove impurities such as bark, wood chips, and sand completely, then drain off the water and proceed to the next step.
3. Hydrolysis: Add the impurity-removed raw material and water into a jacketed reaction kettle, stir, and heat with steam or an oil bath, controlling the temperature at about 120°C. The reaction can be completed in 3-6 hours, then filter through a 40-mesh copper wire screen, and put it into a large vat; this is the product awaiting bleaching.
4. Bleaching: Stir the product awaiting bleaching vigorously, and gradually add a 10% sodium chlorate bleaching solution, and add 0.1%-0.2% formaldehyde or 0.005% carbendazim for preservation. This gives a semi-finished product that basically does not fade.
5. Drying: Place it in a stainless steel tray and blow it with steam, or heat it directly with fire in a pot. During heating, it must be stirred constantly. After drying, a paste-like product with 50% water content is obtained. If sun-dried or oven-dried, pure solid peach gum can be obtained.