Assessment of Physicochemical Properties and Mineral Compositions of Almond (Prunus amygdalus) Gum of Libyan Origin

Twenty-five authentic samples of Prunus amygdalus gum samples were collected from five different locations in northwest of Libya. Different physicochemical methods were used to characterize this type of gum samples. The mean values of the moisture ranged from 12.55 to 14.93%, ash mean values 4.03 to 4.62%, pH 3.89 to 4.40, W.H.C 52.85 to 60.0%, and O.H.C 136.2 to 156.3%. Solubility of Prunus amygdalus gum showed that it had low solubility in distilled water with the mean values ranged from 20.01 to 35.40%, but it dissolved perfectly in alkali media where solubility increased to 96.3% in 0.05 M Na2CO3. The study exhibited that the mean values of cationic concentration in %(w/w) such as calcium was ranged from 0.552 to 0.585, potassium 0.402 to 0.505, iron 0.0975 to 0.1125, and sodium 0.064 to 0.079, which indicates that Ca has the highest concentration of metallic ions present. Atomic absorption method indicate that all samples contain traces of elements, Li, Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Cd. The main functional groups recorded from FTIR spectrum included bands at 3293 cm-1 (O-H in carboxylic group), 1601.77 cm-1 (C=O, amide N-H bend, and C=C), 1357.53 cm-1 (CH3-, and C-O-H in- plane bending vibration), and 1025.74 cm-1 (C-O stretching).