Extraction of oat gum from oat bran: Effects of process on yield, molecular weight distribution, viscosity and (1->3)(1->4)-beta-D-glucan content of the gum

Different processing technologies were examined for their efficiency in production of large amounts of good quality oat gum rich in (1-->3)(1-->4)-beta-D-glucan. Untreated and enzyme-deactivated oat bran concentrate were extracted with aqueous sodium carbonate at pH 10 and 40 degrees C. Oat gums were subsequently isolated either by dialysis, ultrafiltration, or alcoholic precipitation on small, medium, and pilot plant scales. It was possible to produce oat gums with a beta-glucan content of approximate to 60-65% with all three methodologies. The viscosity of solutions of the gums and the molecular weights differed, depending on the production process. Using dialysis, the production of highly viscous gums was possible, whereas ultrafiltration and alcoholic precipitation yielded gums with lower solution viscosity. Enzyme-deactivated oat bran concentrate gave an oat gum with an increased beta-glucan content and solution viscosity, but in lower yield. To produce large amounts of oat gum, alcoholic precipitation would be the process of choice, but ultrafiltration and dialysis are useful alternatives.